


SF463 

















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THE ROLLEK 



CONCERNING ITS HEALTH, HABITS 

AND HAPPINESS; ITS FEEDING, 

BREEDING AND TRAINING 



BY 



THOMAS A. CHURCH 

A. M.. L L. B. 
(COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY) 



57 






Copyright by 

THOMAS A. CHURCH 

New York, N. Y. 

March, 1921. 



MAR 16 1921 



§)CU611188 



CONTENTS 



Chaptbr 


I 


Chapter 


II 


Chapter 


III 


Chapter 


IV 


Chapter 


V 


Chapter 


VI 


Chapter 


VII 


Chapteir 


VIII 


Chapter 


IX 


Chapter 


X 


Chapter 


XI 


Chapter 


XII 


Chapter 


XIII 


Chapter 


XIV 


Chapti^ 


XV 


Chapter 


XVI 


Chapter 


XVII 


Chapter 


XVIII 


Chapter 


XIX 



History 15 

Why a Roller should be in 

Every Home 24 

Feeding; It's Uses and Abuses 38 

Feeding, It's Uses and Abuses 49 

Breeding 58 

Breeding 71 

Nestlings 84 

Training Young Birds 97 

Tours 110 

Tours 122 

Vermin 132 

Moulting 142 

Sickness and Disease; Their 

Prevention and Cure 146 

Complaints Caused by Draughts 

Cold and Exposure 162 

Rare D iseases 170 

Wounds 179 

Breeding for Types 185 

Hints to Breeders and Fanciers 195 
Protective Tariff for American 

Birds 205 



LIST of ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 
The Little Green Bird 15 

The Roller 23 

Hen Feeding Her Young Ones 45 

The Color Of Genuine Rollers Good Enough 57 

A Breeding Cage With Nests 71 

Breeding Cage Without NgsTS 77 

Male Singing to Brooding Hen 78 

I^'lying Cage v 82 

Nestlings 84 

A Vorsinger; The Real Teacher 98 

Training CageI For Young Birds 99 

Study Cabinet (Open) 100 

Study Cabinet (Closed) 101 

Bird Organ 107 

Latest German Bird Organ - 108 

Young Rollers Listening to Low Records of 

Flute and Violin Music 109 

Combination Of Tours Set To Music 129, 130, 131 

Birds In Good Health 195 

The American Spirit 205 

The Bird Representing Justice^ Fraternity 

AND Equality (end of book) 218 



DEDICATION 



This book is rcsixjctfuliy dedicated to 

Captain Joseph Hamlisch, • 
The South African Ninirod, 
Who hunted the big game with Theodore Kousevelt, 

and to 

Alexander Volkommer, 

President of the United Canary Breeders 

Association of America, 

who probably has accomplished more for tlie 

Roller, than any single individual, 

and to the 

United Canary Breeders Association of America, 

with whom rests the welfare and destiny of the 
Roller in the United States, 

and to 

the hundreds of breeders, 

who seek to improve the quality rather than 

the quantity of this bird. 



PREFACE 

Strange to say, the American public has not 
been educated up to the high standard of the roller. 
Tliere are hundreds of thousands of common canar- 
ies or ''chappers" in the homes of our most wealthy 
families; their numbers exceed the roller on an 
average of about fifty to one. This excess of re- 
cognition for the "chapper" could not be possible, 
if the superior melody of the roller were known; 
no other bird would be acceptible. This apparent 
popularity of the ''chapper" is neither due to the 
inferiority of quality or price of the roller; but to 
the supine indifference, modesty and inactivity of 
tlie American breeder. 

Every American home needs the cheerful dis- 
position and charming melody of the roller. Yet 
to the average millionaire, clubman, broker, banker 
and public man, the roller is unknown ; his merits 
as a song bird, have never been considered. Who 
could doubt the result of a contest between the 
''chapper" and the roller, if the two were ever to 
be compared? No one, hearing a first class prima 
roller sing, would ever after have any other bird. 



===== 10 =^^^== 

However, the future of the roller, since the 
world war is very promising; the flattering pros- 
pects of the breeding industry is well assured. The 
market must be regulated in proportion to the in- 
terest aroused and demand created. This must be 
controlled by instructive publicity; by some form 
of authentic reference and reliable information; in 
the nature of a standard text book. 

No breeder can hope to succeed without a 
market. The law of supply is regulated by de- 
mand. Demand for any luxury depends upon the 
available information and instruction with which 
any commodity may be created and advertised. 
Every industry, trade or profession needs a mouth 
piece or organ. Without publicity, any commod- 
ity may be extinguished with the suddenness of one 
being deprived of air by illumnating gas. 

This book is humbly designed to supply a long 
felt want; since there has been no satisfactorily 
thorough treatise in the English language, on the 
roller. It is sincerely hoped, that the corrective 
influence of this book, will enlighten the novice and 
improve the veteran; arouse the American public 
to a full and just appreciation of the merits of 
this bird ; prevent inexperienced and incompetent 
breeders from producing inferior stock ; stimulate 
a genuine public interest in the marvelous possi- 
bility of the roller's incomparable melody. 



11 



In the forum of public discussion, the novice 
who reads, will be enabled Avithout failure or dis- 
appointment, in a brief period, to acquire what it 
cost the veteran breeder years of actual experience 
to accomplish. The speediest way to invoke a 
principle or kill a falacy, is by intelligent discussion. 
Readers will have an opportunity to compare, ac- 
cept or discard the many theories, suggestions and 
opinions offered by the most astute and experienced 
breeders in this country. Publicity will arouse in- 
terest ; stimulate desire ; will create fresh enthusiasm 
and foster new hope for this growing industry. 
Publicity, through the medium of a standard text 
book, establishing fixed principles, is as essential 
to the bird industry, as a compass to the ship. In- 
formation and instruction as to the most improved 
methods to correct old errors and f alacies ; to accept 
new systems and principles ; is as important to the 
breeder, as the northern star by which the compass 
is directed. 

This book is further designed, to be the eco- 
nomy of information between producer and purch- 
chaser; supplying the desired data; bridging the 
channel between supply and demand. 

Breeding rollers has become an American in- 
dustry. The man who reads thoroughly any sub- 
ject, must meet with more success, than the fellow 
who plods along; without some artificial stimulus; 



12 



without some authentic medium to aid him. The 
most experienced are at times in (Joubt ; hence in 
need of some hint or source of reliable information. 
Incompetent novices and inexperienced breeders 
are often hampered by inability to cope with those 
who improve by research, inquiry and information. 

The novice who subscribes for this book will 
have the advantage, at a small cost, of learning the 
best methods or systems from the oldest and most 
experienced master hands; he may take a short cut 
in the science of bird breeding; since the veteran 
breeder, had neither the opportunity nor inclination, 
formerly, to acquire his knowledge in this manner ; 
as no satisfactory standard in English had been 
compiled; sufficiently adequate to supply the needs 
of the breeding industry. By the process of observ- 
ation, deduction and comparison, we speedily arrive 
at the very best methods in the breeding industry ; 
also, by reading and digesting the views and opin- 
ions of those who have spent a life time in perfect- 
ing their various systems. 

Big questions and big business owe their life 
or death to publicity; industry must thrive upon 
intelligent systemization and enlightened methods. 
Thousands of birds die annually from inadequate 
care, improper food and the inability of owners to 
help them in distress or sickness. 



In the breeding industry, intelligent discussion, 
authentic information, maintenance of established 
principles are absolutely requisite to explain and 
emphasize the good points of breeding ; to eliminate 
and destroy the bad; to compare methods; to sug- 
gest improvements; to describe cures; to prevent 
disease. In book form, collective experience may 
be nourishingly fed and quickly digested. 

This book was not written from a mercenary 
motive, but with the humane desire to assist the 
thousands of breeders and admirers of this song 
bird; to promote it's health, comfort and welfare; 
to stimulate this growing industry ; to instruct the 
novice and assist the experienced; to advertise 
methods and principles absolutely indispensable to 
the success of canary breeding; to prevent the un- 
timely deaths of thousands of birds, due to the 
ignorance and negligence of their owners. 

It is hoped, however, that each breeder of the 
roller therefore, if satisfied with this effort, would 
make it his individual duty to recommend this book ; 
realizing, that with the increased publicity given 
this industry by a standard text boolv, it will im- 
prove the quality and breed of the bird; awnken 
the resultant opportunity for traffic ; achieve the 
popularizing of our most interesting, cheerful and 
melodious songster. 




The Little Green Bird 

CHAPTER I. 

HISTORY 

There is very little authentic historj'- of the 
canary bird. Conrad Gesner, in the last half of 
the sixteenth century wrote a book entitled "De 
Avium Natura". Strange to relate, he wrote this 



16 



history, without ever having seen the bird. He 
based his description and data upon the information 
furnished by a friend. PTe called this littl.' ))ird, 
''Canarium Aviculam", wfuch finally became known 
as the "Ijittle Sugar Bird": since it was claimed 
the canary was fond of swx'dv cane. 

Olina, in the year of J 622, wrote "Uccellieria' , 
in liome. 'J'hereafter several other books followed, 
but these writers only knew the green bird imported 
from the Canary Islands. 

The original canary was a native of the Canar- 
ies, Azores and Madiera. This bird was introduced 
into Europe early in the Sixteenth Century. In it's 
wild state, the canary was an olive or apple green 
above head and rump, finely striped with blackish 
brown and golden yellow below, fading to a whitish 
color on lower abdomen; the flanks being marked 
with a brownish hue. In a state of nature, the 
canary associated in flocks; it frequented wooded 
districts, especially pine woods, vineyards and 
gardens. These flocks changed from higher alti- 
tudes, where they spent the summer in the Canary 
Islands, to lower and milder points near the coast 
during the winter. 

The wild canary usually began nidification in 
the month of March near the coast. Three or four 
successive broods were reared, at higher and higher 



17 



altitudes as the summer season progressed ; until 
the last of July or August, when they finished their 
brood season in the mountainous part of the islands. 

Their nests were neatly constructed of dry 
grasses, plant down and moss. They were built in 
well chosen places of quiet and concealment in a 
shrub or low tree, quite often an evergreen; they 
usually built at a height of eight or ten feet from 
the ground. In their native home the climate was 
mild and admirably adapted to breeding; being 
between 27*, 40' and 29*, 30' Northern Latitude 
and between 13*, 10' and 18*, 10' Western Long- 
itude ; the nearest Eastern islands being situated 
al)out sixty miles from the Western coast of Africa. 
Canary Islands used to be called "Lucky Islands", 
because of the wonderful climate, fruitfulness and 
song of it's birds. 

The natural song of the canary was loud and 
clear. In their native groves, the males, especially 
during the mating season, were said to have poured 
forth their love song, with such fervent ardor, at 
times, as to burst the delicate vessels of the throat. 

According to Johann Matthus Bechstein (1757 
— 1822), an eminent German naturalist, the males 
appear to compete with one another in the bril- 
liancy of their melody, in order to attract the fe- 
males; the females invariably selecting the best 
singers. 



18 



When Spaniards took possession of the Canary- 
Islands, in 1478, they found the wild canary; a 
singing bird of great sweetness of song. The Span- 
iards captured large numbers of Canaries and took 
them to Spain. These birds soon became quite a 
commodity. Because of the very high prices they 
brought, they were found only in the homes of the 
very rich. In the palaces of Spanish grandees, the 
canary received every care and attention! ; they 
became the pets of the women folk. The bird 
was considered a jewel. It was customary for a 
hostess, on Sundays and fete days, to be seated in 
the reception room with "canari", as they were 
called, perched on the fore finger of the right hand. 
It also became the fashion, to have one's portrait 
painted with this jewel displayed upon the fore- 
finger. Even to this day, it is possible, to see por- 
traits of this custom, painted by some of the fam- 
ous portrait painters of that epoch. 

The Spaniards knew how to keep the secret 
of breeding canaries exclusively to themselves for 
over a hundred years. They maintained this mo- 
nopoly by selling the male birds only. The females 
were carefully and zealously guarded and kept 
within their own country. By a stroke of destiny, 
the canary became the property of the world. In 
the middle of the sixteenth century, this rule was 
broken. Olina tells us that a Spanish ship bound 
for Livorno, which carried on board, among other 



VJ 



cargoes, a large number of canaries, was wrecked 
near the coast of Italy. The door of the hatch 
which confined these birds was opened by the merci- 
ful hand of some sympathetic sailor. Thus liber- 
ated, they were blown West by an East wind ; they 
settled on the Island of Elba. Upon this Island, 
they found a very suitable climate; they multiplied 
rapidly. 

The Italians, attracted by their sweet melody, 
began to take notice of these feathered strangers. 
It was soon discovered that the canary was not 
only endowed with marvelous harmony of it's own, 
but readily immitated the melody of other birds. 
The Italians captured and sold them in large num- 
bers; to the great detriment of the birds. It then 
became necessary, in order to prevent their utter 
extinction and annihilation to start breeding them. 
From Italy the Italians commenced, to send their 
birds to northern lands; especially to Tyrol and 
other parts of Germany. There, then started to 
flourish a great industry in breeding and selling 
canaries. 

In the last quarter of the eighteenth Century, 
in the City of Imst, a society was organized to con- 
trol and manage this industry. Each year, after 
the breeding season, this organization sent around 
to all canary breeders, in Germany and Switzer- 
land, and bought up all the young bii'ds. This is 



20 



still tlu; present custom. The birds collected in 
this manner, are resold throughout Germany; then 
sent to England, Russia, Belgium and even to 
Constantinople and Egypt. About that time, Eng- 
land obtained a shipment of about sixteen hundred 
head and sold them at fifteen shillings a piece. 

This industry, eventually became firmly est- 
ablished in the Tyrol, the Black Forest region of 
Germany and throughout the Hartz Mountains and 
other parts of the German Empire. The Germans 
gave the breeding and improvement of these birds 
such care and attention, that the breeding and 
dealing in these song birds have been lifted to the 
highest plane. It is even now looked upon as big 
business in those sections. 

"Without a protective tariff, the American 
[ireeders have suffered from a cheap importation of 
birds of an inferior quality. Oftimes, fatally 
weakened and debilitated from sea voyage, suffer- 
ing from cholera, consumption, diarrhea and typh- 
oid, these birds have been imported by the hundreds 
of thousands and sold at a price far below the act- 
ual cost to produce a bird of any quality. Again, by 
a stroke of destiny during the World "War, the ces- 
sation of a ruinous importation, has materially as- 
sisted the American breeder, to supply the demand 
for birds of health and quality, 
in health, the most happy, bright and cheerful. 



21 



The scientific name for the Canary is Tringella 
Canaria. This Latin classification now covers a 
large canary family known to the various localities 
and fanciers as the Belgian Fancy, Crested >.orwich, 
London Fancy, Lizards, Cinnamons, clear and varie- 
gated Norwich Fancy, Glasgow Dons, Scotch Fancy, 
Manchester Coppies and Yorkshire Fancy. The 
birds above mentioned are bred with the desire to 
improve the color, conformation, size and plumage ; 
in other words, developed for show and exhibition 
purposes only. It would be of small concern, 
whether any of the above designated varieties could 
produce a note. An appropriate name for the 
roller, in Latin phraseology, would be^;^*ingeifa 
Harmonia. ^ 

The roller has been bred and developed with 
the sole and premeditated intent to create and im- 
prove melody. Notwithstanding that fact, the 
roller compares favorably in appearance with the 
other varieties. His every curve and outline is 
symetrj^ and perfection ; every move graceful ; his 
eye sparkles with love, welcome and affection ; then 
combined with this, the most harmonious melody. 

Carlyle must have pictured in his mind's eye, 
a typical roller, bursting in to harmony, when he 
wrote those immortal lines,* 'Little drops of celest- 
ial melody." The most popular song bird to those 
who know ; the most contented with cage life ; when 




The Roller 



CHAPTER II. 

WHY A ROLLER SHOULD BE IN EVERY HOME 

** There is no accounting for tastes", said the 
old woman when she kissed the cow. This old 
adage truthfully expresses the infinite and un^ 
limited variety of tastes to which the human mind 
is heir, in the selection of it's choice in music, art, 
food, dress, love or literature. As a visiting strang- 
er, we are not as favorably impressed with the 
©wner of a parrot as with him who owns a roller. 
Impressions of one's individuality at first sight, are 
conclusions from observation, comparison and de- 
duction. 

There are those who are more thrilled with the 
wild music of the bagpipe, than the most classical 
virtuoso by Heifitz upon the violin ; more aroused 
by the weird melody of the banjo, than Beethoven's 
Sonata, rendered by the great master Paderewsky 
upon the piano. This indentity of distinctive per- 
sonality is especially marked in the selection of 
one's favorite pets. Animals have been selected for 
either entertainment or usefulness. For the latter 
purpose, the falcon was taught to ensnare the birds 
of the air ; the otter to capture the fish of the water ; 




The Natural Koller Poise. 



25 



the hound to trail the wild game of the forest; the 
carrier pigeon to hasten the message upon the field 
of battle. For pleasure and pastime, the game 
chicken and dog were bred and trained to fight to 
the death ; the little song bird to enliven the quiet 
and repose of the home. Individuality of taste and 
judgement is interpreted in one's furniture, in the 
selection of pictures and style of dress. 

The evolution of specie from the original canary 
to the present cultured roller, has made it's choice 
paramount to other song birds. This is the effect 
of cause from experience. By the gradual process 
of elimination, the roller has been victor in the bird 
competition of harmonj. The jerky, wild notes of 
the nightingale, the untutored twitter of the thrush, 
the monotonous call of the robin and the shrill 
tones of the untrained canary, might fully satiate 
the taste for bird song in the choice of harmony, 
or the euphony of sound in some persons, more than 
the infinite repertoire of the inimitable mocking 
bird. But the sense of musical distinction in such 
persons must be sadly deficient. 

The roller's soft music, cultured to the highest 
degree, adds to the tone of refinement, dignity and 
contentment of the h-ome; it lends a charm to the 
surroundings. This bird has acquired an infinite 
variety of it's own. Each individual roller selects, 
adds to, or qualifies it's own repertoire. 



26 



The untrained canary or "ehapper'V as well 
as the other song birds, produce the same monoton- 
ous bars of song. It is merel}^ the reiteration of 
whatever their untutored forefathers taught them ; 
without improvement or change. Neither the associa- 
tion with melody or outside influence affects them; 
the range of their musical repertoire is as fixed and 
immutable as the stars. The melody of the roller 
becomes infectious ; it enlivens the home ; it infuses 
a feeling of domestic satisfaction; it has an elevat 
ing effect. The cultured tones of the roller portray 
the same sense of good taste, in an owner, relative- 
ly, as the possession and display of pictures by 
Rembrandt, Rubens, or Sir Joshua Reynolds; it in- 
dicates as refined a conception of bird harmony, as 
the choice of music Ity Beethoven or Bach. The 
roller is as superior in the cultivation and execu- 
tion of his song, to the ordinary song bird, as a five- 
cent cliromo compared to paintings by the great 
masters. 

The tones of this little bird, singing as a rule 
with his bill closed, displays the results of genera- 
tions of careful cultivation, scientific breeding and 
natural selection. The vocal culture gf this bird, 
has successfully responded to the great law of evo- 
lution. The principle of heredity and transmission 
of specie in bird music has been thoroughly ac- 
complished in the production of the roller. It's 



27 



inusiij signifies the same wide margin of artificial 
improvement, as is tlie difference between an edu- 
cated and ignorant mind. Compared to any of the 
wild birds of the forest or those domesticated for 
the sweetness of song, there is the same analogous 
difference between these birds and the roller, as 
between the intelligence of mankind during the 
stone age and cave dwelling epoch, as the man of 
to-day. 

The soft, well modulated tones of the roller, 
rising and falling in rhythmic cadence, in a not of 
melody, has a soothing effect upon the mind ; drives 
dull care from the troubled soul. The cadence of 
his music rises and drops in regular, modulated, 
cultured tones. The eloquent symetry. of his song, 
rolls on in octaves by regular, tuneful stages; with- 
out sudden or harsh breaks; the entire repertoire 
being enlivened by a sweet modulated variety; dis- 
playing rare taste for sound and melody. The ef- 
fect, as compared to a "ehapper", is about the 
relative difference, that might distinguish the song 
of an intoxicated bartender from the refined and 
tuneful tenor of a Caruso. 

The strident notes of the "chapper", shrilly 
singing with mouth fully distended, strikes the re- 
fined sense of sound too harshly. There is a palp- 
able discord in a well appointed home, when the 
loud shrieking of a ''chapper" is heard. It's harsh, 



28 



untrained voice destroys the total effect of dis- 
crimination and culture. It's wild and boisterous 
melody is inclined to shock the nerves. Even those 
who have not given much attention to the disting- 
uishing vocal features of the two birds, notice there 
is in the "chapper", the descendant from the rol- 
ler's untutored ancestors, an indescribable note of 
harsh, boisterous, hysterical vulgarity. The "chap- 
per" sacrifices melody for noise. Most other song 
birds are either too boisterous or monotonous. They 
neither inherit nor acquire the art of imitation nor 
vocal improvement. 

The roller demonstrates the difference between 
many generations of culture and the wild song of 
his untutored ancestors, the canary. Voice culture 
has taught the roller how to use and modulate his 
voice with the least effort. This training has per- 
formed for the roller the same service, that culti- 
vation and voice training have accomplished for the 
human tenor. That is why the roller sings with 
his mouth closed. His sweet melody, regular and 
tuneful, is formed in the throat; the transitions 
from one octave to another are soft and harmonious. 
There is no straining and harsh, throaty notes, as 
if it either gave him pain or effort. It is the soft, 
tuneful, rolling melody of a gentleman, who sings 
at ease; as if it gave him pleasure; the thorough 
satisfaction of an enjoyable pastime, as he grace- 
fully swings from side to side upon his perch. The 



29 



sliding cadence, as he easily reaches one octave 
after another, clearly demonstrates the substantial 
effect of systematic training. 

The singing of the human being, without cul- 
tivation, even if gifted with ever so beautiful a 
natural voice, will be punctuated with nasal, harsh 
and throaty defects. His singing is more labored 
and difficult; simply because he has not learned to 
save his vocal strength; to economize and modulate 
his tone. Subtract, if possible, the musical cultiv- 
ation from the total effect of John McCormick's 
wonderful tenor and what would be left? The notes 
of the untutored, natural voice are neither as soft, 
pure and tuneful as the cultured singer. By cultiv- 
ation, one with an inherently poor, natural voice, in 
time will surpass the singer with a natural musical 
voice, without cultivation. Culture will speedily 
and surely supersede inherent gift. Upon this the- 
ory the early breeders of the roller proceeded; 
their efforts were crowned with unqualified success. 

The roller is strictly the product of environ- 
ment and cultivation. It's music represents a long 
and tedious journey from the Canary Islands, and 
Hartz Mountains, to it's present state of tuneful 
melody. By the same process of evolution and 
natural selection which has produced a speed mar- 
vel like Man 0' War, from the original specie of 
horse, with three toes and the size of a deer, has the 



dO 



roller been finally evolved from the original un- 
tutored ancestors of the Canary Islands. Years of 
cultivation have produced a complete repertoire of 
music. 

Just as the music of human beings has de- 
veloped into individual and classified cults, known 
as Italian, French, German and English schools of 
harmony, so has the roller developed a distinct type 
of musical interpretation and perfection. His har^ 
mony has been distinctly perfected and classified. 
He has arrived at a stage of musical culture, in 
which his song may be identified and even credited 
with varying degrees of harmonious perfection. In 
competition, he may receive nine points for a per- 
fect rendition of the "Hohlrolle"; if sung with pro- 
per modulation and sweetness, when rated by com- 
petent judges; nine points each for "Knorre" and 
"KoUer"; six points each for the ''Shockle" and 
"Flute". But on the contrary, the roller will be 
penalized nine points in a contest, for emitting such 
false notes as the ''Schnatter" and ''Schnetter". 
In other words, the repertoire of the roller may be 
set to music. He may be known as an excellent, 
good, ordinary or defective bird; in accordance 
with the quality and variety of his harmony. Such 
is the high ideal of musical perfection to which the 
roller has arrived, it is often said, ''there is no 
perfect bird." 



31 



By this consistent improvement, under long 
and patient tutelage, by artificial musical instru- 
ments, and the influence of other bird music from 
the thrush and nightingale, his operatic repertoire, 
copied but individualized, consists of a great variety 
of distinct bars of strains of music. His rating in 
a contest, will depend upon the softness and har- 
mony of interpretation which he may give in his 
song, and the musical cadence by which he may 
combine in his repertoire the ''Glucken", ''Hohl- 
klingel", the ''Pfeifen", ^'Klingel", "Klingelrolle", 
the "Wasserrolle", the "Kollernde Wasserrolle", 
and the many other bars of music he has developed. 

In course of time, by this steady and constant 
vocal improvement, he must necessarily become a 
greater singer, by still enlarging his repertoire and 
perfecting his melody ; physical evolution, encour- 
aged by proper nourishment and environment, 
will also produce a larger and stronger bird. This 
inevitable improvement will eventually be consuma- 
ted ])y the same process of physical development, 
which causes the tame duck to have weak wings and 
large limbs; as contrasted with the wild duck, 
which is especially developed by large, powerful 
wings. The domesticated duck has lost practically 
the use of it's wings, because of non-use and in- 
activity; the other, the wild duck is almost con- 
tinually on the wing; hence their strength and 
vitality. Continuous use of physical . members of 



32 



the body of any animal, combined with natural 
selection and the transmission of species, will finally 
produce a distinct type in the pei'fection of any 
particular member of the body, whether of vocal or 
{)hysical design. 

Other song birds are known by only a few 
musical bars which they continually re-iterate. 
This constant repetition becomes monotonous. 
There are no constanty recurring monotonous bars 
sung by the roller. The blending of musical strains, 
the joining of harmony, the soulful interpretation 
of it's melody, classify the status, quality and value 
of each bird. The imitation or influence of other bird 
music may be assimilated, but each individual roller 
will so translate, qualify, blend and interpret this 
borrowed melody as to make it his own; this con- 
tinues until he has fully and comi)i('r ly composed 
his own repertoire. From time to time, he discards 
or increases this repertoire, either for improvement 
or deterioration, whicli will depend upon his en- 
vironment, health or breeding. If he is associated 
with good birds, his improvement will be assured; 
but if his contact is with ''chapp'ers", loud singing 
birds, or birds of inferior quality, his melody will 
deteriorate. Therefore, owing to the variety of it's 
notes, it's well toned modulation, the rhythmic 
changes from one tuneful cadence to another, the 
tasteful rendition of his magnetic melody, the con- 



33 



sensus of opinion, has universally chosen the roller 
as the ideal song bird; the golden medium of bird 
popularity. 

The association of ideas controls many persons 
in the choice of song birds ; reviving pleasant memo- 
ries of by-gone days ; reminiscences of far away 
home ; the locality and environment of youth. But 
the same judgement should be used in the selection 
of a song bird as in the choice of one's furniture. 
The individuality of taste and judgment are inter- 
preted in the selection of one's books, pictures, 
speech and style of dress. The total effect of one's 
home is regulated by the relative intelligence and 
individuality of the owner. You can identify the 
personality and classify the individual by the com- 
pany he keeps, no more than by the environments 
of his home and favorite pets. 

The home is one's castle. It reflects either 
the taste, intelligence and class, or the ignorance, 
poverty or sloth of the individual ; it is either neat 
or sloven, tidy or unkempt. To catch the eye, pic- 
tures of art adorn the wall ; antiques and bric-a- 
brac are selected with rare taste ; to satisfy the ear, 
tuneful music is chosen ; for intellectual food, good 
books are selected; to even please the nose, sweet 
scented flowers decorate the boudoir. To complete 
this domestic effect, a sweet singing songster exalts 
the entire environment. The music of a Roller lifts 



34 



one far above the surroundings of art and literature, 
because it consists of real life ; it puts a soul into the 
inanimate gewgaws of science and the symbols of 
intellectual representation; it exerts a softening, 
exhilarating, refining influence. 

The entire environments of the home represent 
the mirror of the soul. They reflect the composite pic- 
tures of the man within. They may be radical or 
conservative, modern or antique. *'Show me your 
home'*, exclaimed an instructor in pedagogics, ''be 
it ever so humble, and I can tell you who you are". 
The contents of the household, like one's friends, 
should be well chosen. This total effect, uncon- 
sciously, appeals to the visitor's estimate of the 
master of the house. The possession of a roller, 
indicates an owner of good taste, sound Judgement; 
that the owner is particular in his choice of a song 
bird; that he is of conservative, modern instincts; 
an admirer of tuneful harmony. 

The personal attributes of the roller, consisting 
of a strong individuality and certain amount of 
magnetism, are especially attractive. He is the per- 
sonification of innocence, appreciation and depen- 
dence in his small cage. He is loyal, devoted and at- 
tentive ; he welcomes his master by bursting into 
song at sight in the morning ; he shows a cordial ap- 
preciation when his master returns at night. 



35 



The prejudice against caging a bird, cannot 
exist against the roller, for he is the "unique expon- 
ent of domestic cultivation. If liberated, the roller 
would perish. The roller cannot be said to inhabit 
any special locality. 

The anology of it's incarceration is not similar 
to, nor parallel to the mocking bird, the thrush, 
nor the nightingale. No particular locality can 
claim the roller. He has ceased to be indigenous 
to any soil ; nor can it be said, that this bird can be 
the medium of any particular service or usefulness, 
other than the entertainment of it's song. Most wild 
birds perform an important mission; they protect 
the farmer from countless millions of pestivorous 
insects, consisting of larvae, plant lice, ants, grass 
hoppers, canker worms, leaf hoppers and cater- 
pillars; hence they protect the food supply. These 
birds do not usually thrive in captivity, because 
they cannot get proper food to feed their offspring. 
The roller cannot be claimed, by the people of any 
special territory. He has now become the domestic 
soldier of fortune; the feathered troubadour of 
civilization ; which depends upon the kindness, care 
and appreciation of the human family. 

There is something socially substantial to be 
learned from that small cage, inhabited by the 
roller. It teaches magnanimity; that the weak 
should be protected from the strong ; that usefulness 
cannot be measured by avoirdupois or size; that 



36 



contentment is not the essence of roaming at will; 
that environments do not necessarily decide the mea- 
surement of happiness; that satisfaction can come 
to the smallest and most humhle homes. The sweet- 
ness and harmony of this bird's song and the gen- 
tility of his personality soften the innate cruelty of 
children. From this small cage, mucn practical 
philosophy may also be obtained. We may extract 
from his humble perch, the comforting thought, 
that what one never knows, he never misses; that 
''ignorance is bliss where it is folly to be wise"; 
that ''he who is robbed, not knowing it, is not 
robbed at all". The care for this bird removes 
bigotry, cruelty, and narrow mindedness ; it arouses 
sympathy, interest and kindness to dumb animals; 
since "one touch of nature makes all the world 
akin." 

In the repertoire of the roller, there is com- 
bined a composite harmony of our most musical in- 
struments. Improvements in the type of this bird 
here in America, have been so strong, that the ori- 
ginal Hartz Mountain type has almost been oblit- 
erated. We may justly claim to have originated a 
distinct, individual type of our own. This has been 
fully established in the tone and quality of this 
bird's song; no less than by the health and strength 
of it's body. Although adopted, with full respect, 
gratitude and appreciation to those who developed 
the roller, it lias become an American product. 



37 



The imported birds do not favorably compare 
to the domestic product. This adaptation has been 
just as emphatic and distinct, in the evolution of an 
American type, as we have improved over the ori- 
ginal imported Pekingese and Chow dogs of China or 
the French bull dog of France. The future promises 
improvement in the type of this bird, vocally and 
physically, by certain reliable stages of evolution; a 
larger and stronger bird; with sweeter music and a 
more robust stomach. This last improvement, is the 
most essential, for the stomach is the . seat of all 
animal life. Like a boiler to machinery, upon whose 
strength and powder depend the augmentation of 
force, must the stomach of the roller be the source 
of this little bird's vitality and health. 



CHAPTER III. 
FEEDING; IT'S USES AND ABUSES 

The canary is a highly domesticated ])ird. The 
influence of long years of artificial breeding has 
caused it's stomach to be the most delicate portion 
of it's organism. With many centuries of close con- 
finement and in breeding, deprived for generations 
of the very essential opportunity of selecting from 
nature's storehouse, those herbacious nourishments 
and medicinal tonics, best adapted to promote health 
and digestion, without any outcrossing from native 
stock, the diet of this bird must be v^atched with 
great care. The roller has been for so long a 
period the object of domestication, that he is pure- 
ly artificial. To give him robust health and genuine 
vitality, is the most important problem which con- 
fronts the breeder. This may be easily solved, with 
due regard to the kind and quality of food with 
which the roller may be nourished. 

The principal food consists of the following 
kinds; rape, canary, millet, crushed oats, lettuce 
seed, linseed, thistle seed, flaxseed, hemp and poppy 
seed; also, the following salads: lettuce, spinach, 
watercress, dandelion and the sprouts from rape 



39 



seed. Rape seed takes root very readily even if 
thrown into a flower pot; the sprouts from this seed 
are not only appetizing but nourishing. Occasion- 
ally, a piece of apple may be given ; l)ut care should 
be used to see that the apple remains fresh; other- 
wise, the combination of stale apple, decomposed 
with the brass or metal of the cage, forms a poison. 
This same condition may arise with both lettuce 
and spinach salad. Care must also be. observed, 
that the spinach and lettuce salad be placed into 
the cage in an absolutely dry condition, as too much 
wet green food w^ill produce diarrhea; the same 
condition might arise from feeding too much apple. 
Each of the above mentioned seed, has a different 
influence upon the health, bod}^ and organs of the 
bird ; supplying different chemical and gastric prop- 
erties after digesting; if properly fed, producing 
nourishments especially adapted fpr the health and 
vitality of the bird. 

Rape seed is the sheet anchor of a roller's vital- 
ity. Rape seed is to the roller, what roast beef is 
to man. It is his most substantial and nourishing 
diet. This seed contains a high percentage of oil. 
It is easily digested and produces genuine vitality. 
Good rape seed may be ascertained by the taste. It 
should not bite the tongue ; it is a bitter sweet taste, 
similar to that of walnut; oherwise, it is not good. 
This seed must be kept dry, since damp or mouldy 



40 



rape seed is sickening to the bird. Canary seed is 
far preferable, in taste to the bird ; it has not the 
bitterness caused by the shell of rape seed, hence is 
more palatable. Canary seed contains a large a- 
mount of starch; if fed too liberally it is fattening; 
too much canary seed produces loud singing, which 
the breeder seeks to avoid. Fat birds are neither 
good for singing nor breeding. 

The mixture of rape and canary seed is the 
happy medium of a normal, health giving, daily 
diet; about one-third canary and two-thirds rape. 
The very best rape seed is the German summer qual- 
ity rape seed; Spanish canary seed is the best. 
These two seed, rape and canary, probably contain 
all the necessary ingredients a roller needs to health- 
ily thrive upon. A change of diet given in modera- 
tion and at proper intervals, has the same effect 
upon the roller as other animals. The seed of a 
bird should be sifted carefully before being placed 
into the food cup to discard the dust and dirt. Es- 
pecial care should be given to remove any mouse 
excrement, since it produces nausea and sickens the 
bird. 

Hemp seed is also fattening and should be 
cracked before feeding. It has been contended, 
that because this seed must be prepared in this 
manner, it is not the natural food of the bird. The 
substance of hemp seed is very strengthening and 



41 



nutritious when fed with care. It may be cracked 
by placing the seed between the folds of a cloth and 
pounding it with some hard object; it may be also 
crushed by placing it in a coffee grinder. 

Lettuce and thistle seed are delicacies and 
might be compared to the dessert of the human 
being after the more substantial meal. Linseed is 
also a health producing food, but because of it's 
bitterness, is not well liked by the birds. Poppy 
seed also contains a large percentage of oil, but the 
percentage of opium is so large, that if fed too frequ- 
ently, it produces a lazy, sleepy effect upon the bird. 
It has a tendency to cause constipation; it may be 
fed to birds with diarrhea with good results; this 
may be done until the excrement of the bird becomes 
normal again; also, green food and apple is good 
for constipation. Hulled oats produce the contrary 
effect to poppy seed upon the digestion of the bird 
and offers speedy relief to birds suffering from con- 
stipation. Salt pork and bacon rind are beneficial 
for birds suffering with hoarseness or cold. 

To build bone and sinew oyster shells or old 
plaster material from torn down buildings and 
pieces of limestone are very helpful to both young 
and old birds. Flax seed is very fattening. Small 
quantities of this seed might be used occasionally 
to build up the waste tissues of brood hens after the 
breeding season. But if from the constant use of 



42 



egg food to feed young ones, the hens are very fat 
and have not lost much weight, then hemp and flax 
seed should be discarded and plain rape seed used. 

The roller is a great glutton; it eats daily, half 
it's weight in food ; care must be exercised that birds 
do not over feed. Egg shells should be thoroughly 
dried, crushed and given to both old and young 
birds; since it makes bone, produces lime and 
strengthening material necessary to the digestion 
and vitality of both old and young birds. Cuttle 
bone and fresh sand also assist in producing the 
same kind of necessary upbuilding; and also aids 
to digestion; they are especially beneficial to brood 
hens both for the necessary formation of healthy and 
normal eggs and in the transmission of bone mater- 
ial to young birds. 

Birds have no teeth and cuttle bone is very 
essential, to sharpen the bill and keep it in good 
condition to crack seed, which is more easily pre- 
pared for digestion; the real digestion of the roller 
takes place in the gizzard. 

Egg food is very essential food material in the 
production of necessary vitality for old and young 
birds, both male and female ; when fed with moder- 
ation and judgement. This food is absolutely in- 
dispensable in the preparation of male and female 
birds for mating ; feeding the nestlings and strength 
ening of young birds and keeping them in good 



43 



condition. This food seems to supply the necessary 
material which corresponds to the animal and insect 
food collected by wild birds. To properly pre- 
pare this food, boil an egg twenty minutes, when 
thoroughly cooled, grate it finely, mix it with ground 
toasted white bread, zweibach or rolls; four heaping 
tablespoonfuls to one egg; a little spinach mixed 
with this finely mashed, with luke warm water to 
only moisten and properly temper it, will be very 
nourishing to nestlings when mother hens do not 
feed their young. When preparing food for nestlings, 
this preparation should be thinned into a paste, 
which more readily corresponds to the saliva used 
by the mother hen. 

Meal worms, which are those dark, red worms 
found in flour are very srrenghtening, I'attening -md 
nutritiou'5 to mother hens, when feeding their off- 
spring. These worms m'-^.y be kept in a jar and fed 
upon flour; a piece of an old rag or old leather is 
useful to provide nesting places for meal worms. The 
worms turn into bugs by a gradual proces;^> of meta- 
morphosis; then these bugs lay thousands of eggs 
from which the worms are hatched; then the bugs 
die. It has been claimed by some breeders, that 
although nutritious, young birds fed upon the meal 
worms are inclined to produce loud tones. On the 
other hand, many breeders attribute marvelous 
success to feedmg brood hens upon the meal worms. 



=^=zzz== 44 ===== 

In any event, they are very strengthening to young 
birds; giving them a solid and substantial consti- 
tution. 

The bills of young birds after leaving the nest 
are too soft, at first to peal off the hard shell of the 
rape seed, hence it should be crushed with a coffee 
grinder ; rape and canary sieed ground together 
make a very nutritious and strengthening food for 
the young birds; containing the essential mater- 
ial which produces bone and sinew. 

"When lettuce or spinach is fed, it is better to 
select the more tender and choice portion of the 
salad leaves. Spinach contains iron sulphate and 
is a good blood maker; it produces a normal and 
healthy diet ; aiding in the digestion of food and 
regulating the condition of the bowels. It's medi- 
cinal qualities are far superior to lettuce. 

Birds should be given early every day fresh 
food and water. In the hot summer months, they 
should receive fresh water twice a day; never too 
cold. Drinking water in a breeding room, may be 
arranged by a self acting fountain or drinking cup. 
To make one capable of furnishing healthy and re- 
freshing water, take a small sized stone jar, quickly 
invert the same over a saucer, after the jar has been 
filled with water; first place a large nail across the 
bottom of the saucer, to hold the jar up a trifle; this 
causes the water to sIoavIv percolate from under the 



45 



jar. In this manner, the water keeps cooler and 
fresher than in an open receptacle; prevents the 
birds from using the drinking water for bathing 
purposes; keeps the water clean. 

If preparing a hen for the breeding season, she 
should receive her second portion of egg food about 
noon; about 3 o'clock in the afternoon she should 
receive her third portion, providing her condition 
warrants it. She should never be given more egg 
food at one time than she will eat in about three 
hours; since it might sour, rendering it useless and 
harmful. 

The hen during the breeding season, should feed 
the young ones some digested seed to make them 
healthy; all egg food is too heavy and difficult to 
digest without a portion of soaked, crushed rape seed 
and salad. The feeding hen should have a variety 
of seed, so that she can select that which is most 
beneficial and useful. 




Heru Feeding Her Young Ones. 



46 



After the breeding season, the female should 
be given a little pork fat occasionally, also, salted 
food, hulled oats and hemp. While it is contended 
by some breeders that salt is not essential to the 
physical organism of a bird, this is without founda- 
tion. A small portion of salt is as necessary to the 
organism of a bird as it is to man. 

Some birds are atflicted Avith the evil habit of 
egg eating. This destructive malady is sometimes 
due to the eating of an egg accidentally broken; 
hence the remains of an egg found in a cage should 
be speedily cleaned up to remove all temptation and 
prevent the possibility of this habit. 

Whenever a bird seems depressed or dispirited, 
use a piece of fat pork, sometimes salt and some- 
times fresh, which has been soaked to remove surplus 
salt or Camilla tea, which is a tonic ; also, a piece of 
bacon rind, sprinkled with red pepper, may be 
placed between the bars of the cage to accomplish 
the same result. Physical decline is usually a fore 
runner to some malady. So this condition may be 
treated by building the bird up ; hence food must be 
given which will tone up the system. If taken in 
time, it is easier to improve this condition than cur- 
ing some disease which threatens to follow; for the 
old adage of "a stitch in time, saves nine", applies 
with treble force when adopted to the roller. 



47 



If birds should lose their appetites and seem 
to not relish their food, any breeder might prepare 
a tasteful and appetizing composition sometimes call- 
ed "restorer". A combination of seed judiciously 
blended to contain a variety of substances will soorj 
revive the lost appetite. This bird succotash might 
consist of a quantity of mixed rape, canary, lettuce, 
millet, Irish oat meal, poppy and hemp seed, season- 
ed with a small portion of salt and red pepper. 

A good bill of fare for a bird in the mopish 
stage, is egg food every other day; a quantity of 
boiled carrot ; a piece of ripe apple or a couple of 
dandeloin leaves or a spray of watercress; a good 
tonic is also sometimes used of ten drops of sherry 
and five drops of the tincture of quinine, to two 
tablespoonfuls of drinking water daily. 

Very little green food should be given during 
the cold weather, as it tends to thin the blood ; dur- 
ing the winter, a piece of ripe apple or boiled carrot 
will be beneficial, if alternately given every other 
day, unless the excrement becomes thin and watery. 

At least every few days, seed should be tho- 
roughly sifted ; all seed must be kept absolutely dry. 
Too much hemp seed not only is very fattening, but 
causes feather rot. Some hens feed their young 
better without a male ; others require the assistance 
of a male ; the breeder must use .iudgement in each 



48 



individual case ; watercress, thistle seed and an apple 
occassionally, is ver}^ invigorating and nourishing to 
a brood hen while feeding offspring. 

Dandeloin should be given when birds are 
backward in their preparation for breeding; stop it's 
use when they lay; give very sparingly the rest of 
the season. When brood hens become overheated or 
advance too early, egg food should be discontinued 
and canary and rape seed used only; also a little 
boiled rape seed ; a small quantity of magnesia plac- 
ed in the drinking water, is a good cooling remedy. 
Some breeders use Epsom Salts for this purpose, 
once in ten days. This is a very cooling medicine and 
must be used with care, otherwise, birds are liable 
to take cold. It may be prepared and administered 
as follows : One dessertspoonful of salts put into a 
quart of boiling water and let stand till it gets 
cold; this is sufficient for about fifty birds. Divide 
this equally and fill up with ordinary water; this 
remedy might also prevent egg bound hens. 



CHAPTER IV. 

FEEDING; IT'S USES AND ABUSES 

In the language of an eminent authority, Henry 
Thomas Buckle, "Food consumed by man produces 
two effects necessary to existence : First, to supply 
him with animal heat to continue the functions of 
life ; second, to supply the waste material. For 
each of these separate purposes, there is a separate 
food. The temperature of the body is kept up by 
substances which contain no nitrogen and are called 
non-azotized. The incessant decay in our organism 
is repaired by what is known as azotized substances, 
in which nitrogen is always found. 

"The colder a country is in which a people 
live, the more highly carbonized will be their food ; 
lience, whale oil and blubber, which would end life 
in the tropics. In the polar food there is an excess 
of carbon ; in tropical food, an excess of oxygen ; 
the oils contain six times as much carbon as Die 
fruits and have very little oxygen; while starch is 
nearly half oxygen. Oxygen is abundant and cheap 
such as fruit and vegetables; carbon is hard to get 
and dear; it consists of fat, blubber and oil of 
ferocious animals." 



50 



The feeding of birds is analogous to the human 
family. Temperature should moderately determine 
a bird's diet. Maw, mustard and hemp are hoat 
producing seed and are more beneficial in the winter 
months; while green food, canary and lettuce seed 
can be fed with better results in the summer. 

Birds in preparation for the heck must be fed 
with suitable food to produce sexual ambition ; hens 
must also be fed with such nourishing food as to pro- 
duce certain chemical elements which represent life ; 
it is this composition which creates the bird. 

Birds, like people, to a limited extent, differ in 
tastes, dispositions and appetites. Overfeeding and 
food too rich, will produce in man, indigestion, dis- 
pepsia and gout. There are certain individual ab- 
dominal peculiarities and idioscyncrasies often dis- 
cerned in the human family; the same conditions 
exist with birds. Some people cannot eat fried 
food of any kind; others cannot eat fruits contain- 
ing acids. Diet is better than medicine for most 
vital organic troubles. Diabetes and Brights Dis- 
ease have been cured by a strict adhesion to diet. 
Some foods are individually nourishing for certain 
organs such as asparagus for the bladder and kid- 
neys; oysters, fish and sea food create vitality for 
the nervous system. Observation will quickly in- 
form the breeder as to the individual food require- 
ments of his feathered charges. 



51 



There are several nourishing foods, for both 
mature and young birds the recipes of which follow ; 
The first is known as safiron cake : Take a half 
pound of flour ; three ounces of sugar ; two ounces of 
butter and yolk of two fresh laid eggs ; procure a 
few cents worth of meadow safiron and pour a tea- 
cupful of boiling water over it ; beat eggs and butter 
together in a separate basin ; next add sugar and 
flour and form the whole into a mass with the so- 
lution; after it has been strained through a muslin, 
place the preparation in an oven and bake. When 
cold it is ready for use. 

Another preparation is German Paste : ^Tash 
and bruise one pound of rape seed; blowing away 
husks; then add a piece of white bread, about two 
days old; roll these well together; reduce the mash 
to a powder. Place this preparation into a tin can- 
ister or glass bottle; keep it tightly corked to keep 
out the air; a little of this mixed with hard boiled 
egg and a slight sprinkling of cayenne pepper, makes 
nutritious food for old or young birds. It should 
be made fresh every twelve or fourteen days. It 
may be moistened with water for use of young or 
delicate birds. 

The following food is very health giving and 
nourishing : Take one pound of fine oatmeal (Irish 
oatmeal preferred), one pound of good wheat flour; 
cook in slow oven, until golden brown in color ; keep 



52 



constantly stirring to prevent burning and when 
cold add one quarter pound of ground rice, six 
ounces ground Indian corn, six ounces moist or 
powdered loaf sugar, four ounces hempseed, freed 
from husks, three ounces crushed maw seed; mix 
well together and keep in tin canister in dry 
place. This will keep for many months. When 
required, moisten with warm water and make in- 
to a stiffish, crumbly paste, as much as needed in 
one day. This must be prepared every morning. 

The following is .also a good mixture = Take 
about eight ounces of rolls or biscuits; two ounces 
ground linseed ; three ounces finely ground oatmeal ; 
three ounces ground rice ; two ounces crushed hemp- 
seed, freed from husks; four ounces powdered loaf 
sugar; about one half ounce salt; two ounces maw 
seed. This should be reduced to a fine powder, ex- 
cept the maw seed, which may be added whole ; the 
preparation should be well rubbed together in a 
mortar; then kept in a tin canister, m a dry place. 
This should be mixed with hot water. 

The following is an economical and nourishing 
food for young birds: Take one pound of finest oat 
meal and roast in an oven until it becomes a pale 
brown color; keep stirring it repeatedly to prevent 
burning; when cold, add one quarter pound of best 
Indian meal and one pound of sweet biscuit, finely 



53 



powdered, one tablespoonful of moist or crushed loaf 
sugar and a teaspoonful of salt ; mix well together in 
a mortar ; preserve for use in a covered tin canister 
in a dry place. When required, mix with the above 
a small quantity of genuine German rape seed, first 
scalded and washed clean; then mix with sufficient 
water to make mass crumbly moist ; it is then ready 
for use. 

Many breeders realizing the utmost importance 
of nutritious food for birds, prepare their own bis- 
cuits, which they have tried, improved upon and 
perfected from experience. They guard these priv- 
ate recipes with zealous care; some breeders are 
anxiously ambitious to obtain patent righlf^ for these 
foods and offer them to the public Por sale : others 
prize these preparations too highly to share them 
even for money. 

One of the great recipes is known as the 
*'Brandner Corn Meal Biscuits". It is very nutri- 
tious and is prepared as follows: 

Take eleven eggs; beat whites very stiff; then 
under continued beating, add the yolks with the 
same; then, add a little over two and one half 
ounces of sugar; to this, add a little less than five 
ounces of fine corn meal ; grease the pan and sprinkle 
lightly with cracker crumbs ; then pour this mixture 
into the pan and bake in a hot oven from three 
quarters to one hour. 



COLOR FEEDING 

The color of feathers may be materially im- 
proved and changed to practically every shade of 
yellow, orange and red. This is accomplished by a 
system of color feeding. It must be done while 
the feathers are in the process of formation. This 
is easiest with the early hatched young birds. Color 
feeding ought to be started about three weeks in 
advance of the moult ; it is usually started in June ; 
so that the blood may be thoroughly impregnated 
with the coloring matter. The greater the propor- 
tion of color food employed, the nearer one approa- 
ches to a deep red tone. It is advisable, if one is so 
inclined, to start with one third quantity and raise 
to two thirds, then the full quantity. 

Color feeding is produced by various shades 
of sweet or tastless peppers; some are bright and 
light, others medium and some are dark; the blend- 
ing of the richest colors, usually brings good results. 
One of the sweet peppers is commonly known as 
paprika; it produces a very dark, rich color with 
little heat ; this color is good to blend with. 



55 



There are also various shades of hot cayenne 
peppers; the best is the rich, bright red "natal" 
pepper. The ingredients of color food should be 
thoroughly mixed and blended together and kept 
ready for use in a glass or earthen ware jug tightly 
closed. Some use a small quantity of olive oil in 
the preparation, while others do not believe in the 
use of oil. 

To give color food, prepare egg food in the 
usual way. To each small tea cupful of egg food, 
add two heaping teaspoonfuls of the color food and 
blend all together, until the whole is one even mass 
of color; then serve the same as egg food, about the 
same quantity. 

Color food should be started as soon as birds 
begin to lose feathers, then gradually inereas3 color 
food from one, to two, three and four teaspoonfuls 
to each cupful of egg food; then increase in the 
middle of the moult, until well past the moult, then 
decrease. The object of this, is to preserve an even 
color. As the moult increases, four and even six 
teaspoonfuls of color food to the egg food may be 
given; then decreased to three. This must be kept 
up regularly every day or the feathers will appear 
patchy in color. To fix color and make it more 
lasting, a crystal of sulphur of iron, the size of a 
hemp seed, should be dissolved in drinking water, 
two or three times a week, the latter part of the 



56 



moult. The following day after giving sulphur of 
iron, add several drops of glycerine to drinking 
water to counteract the constipation which is apt 
to follow the use of iron. 

The various shades of colors may be produced 
by the following recipes and directions: 

To produce a deep yellow, take one pound of 
sweet pepper, two ounces of natal pepper, four 
ounces of turmeric, one half pound of soft sugar, 
three ounces of best olive oil. This quantity to 
commence with a half teaspoonful, to one egg and 
four biscuits. Increase color food by degrees, say 
in course of a fortnight, to one teaspoonful, and 
continue with this quantity until the bird has moult- 
ed, all but finishing the head feathers, which are 
last, when the quantity of color food should be re- 
duced to one half. 

To produce an orange color : Increase strength 
of color food to two teaspoonfuls to one egg and 
four biscuits. 

To produce a red color: Take one pound of 
sweet pepper, four ounces of natal pepper, one half 
pound of soft sugar, four ounces salad oil, all well 
blended together; the quantity to commence with 
one half teaspoonful to one egg and four biscuits and 
increase by degrees up to two teaspoonfuls in course 
of seven to ten days. Spanish canary seed and lin- 



57 



seed should be used while giving color food. For- 
merly, color food was found in the use of beet root, 
marigold flowers, carrots, cochineal, saffron and 
madder. 

It is certainly not deemed advisable to artifici- 
ally change the roller's color. His worth and ex- 
hibition qualities do not depend upon his color, con- 
formation, size or plumage — , but his melody. The 
roller is more useful than ornamental. There is 
enough natural color to the roller to obtain, by 
proper crossing, any attractive shade desired, 
without vitally endangering the larynx, throat, vocal 
organs, stomach and liver of the bird, by the use 
of color food. 




ntaMi^M^^ 



The Color of Genuine Roller — Good Enough. 



CHAPTER V. 

BJIEEDING 

Breeding rollers is one of the most interesting 
and fascinating of indoor sports, for young or old, 
male or female persons. This pastime not only 
brings us close to nature and her wonderful laws 
of reproduction, but rewards us with many happy, 
entertaining and instructive hours. 

There is absolutely some necessary and prelim- 
inary, physical preparation to properly equip both 
male and female birds for the breeding season. Both 
should have had several months flying in a large 
cage or room adapted for breeding; since they ac- 
quire as much strength and vitality by flying as 
from wholesome food. Both must be fed upon egg 
food in the morning and evening, at least two weeks 
before mating; sometimes, a little egg food three 
times a day; to produce the necessary vitality and 
sexual desires. The amount of egg food must 
depend upon the physical condition of the birds. 
For egg food is the indispensable material to the 
successful breeding of rollers. 

First class stock must be chosen; success de- 
pends upon the quality of one's stock. Both male 



59 



aud female must be selected with due regard for 
health and robust vitality; weak or sickly parents 
do not produce healthy offspring. Unsound birds 
will produce young ones with pulmonary defects; 
they usually transmit sickness or Aveakness. The 
male bird must be in good song; he must be alert 
and show sexual desire. As soon as placed into the 
cage, if in proper condition, he should commence 
his love song and chase the female ; he must be the 
boss. Jt he is whipped or afraid, he is not fit for 
mating. The fema'e si*ould not act droopy or 
mopish, but also show ambition. Her to e nail s 
should be pared to proper length, to prevent her 
from dragging nestlings from the nest. 

For the best results, one must select choice 
females; they are the main reliance in breeding; 
upon the mother hen, rests the success or failure of 
the young birds, not only in the production and rais- 
ing of strong, superior stock, but in caring for the 
young fledglings; any good nest of youngsters may 
be worth One Hundred Dollars. It is better to pur- 
chase the best; about the months of September or 
October from some reliable breeder; so that they 
might have time to get used to the place. Some 
females cost almost as much as a trained singer; 
good ones are worth it ; they are cheap at any price. 

With the best of care, after each breeding sea- 
son, fed up and allowed a long fly, good females will 



60 



contiuue to breed on four or five years. Some breed- 
ers prefer to use a female for only one season; they 
get rid of old hens. A good feeder is a valuable 
asset and can be kept in good breeding shape, v^ith 
proper care for the period mentioned. 

As in all animal breeding, inbreeding is unde- 
sirable; it tends to v^eaken and produce inferior 
stock. This can be avoided, by occasonally, pur- 
chasing nevr stock or exchanging stock, if of equal 
good quality, with other reliable breeders. The 
outcrossing with new breeding material must prove 
beneficial, by strengthening and preserving one's 
stock. 

Usually, a light hen is mated with a dark male 
and vice versa; following the old Latin proverb of 
"Similis a disimilis curantur". They seem to pre- 
fer each other. They must be happily mated; for 
w^hen green birds are mated with yellow ones, they 
produce mottled or check birds; this color seems to 
be preferable with breeders; the color markings 
and results of muff and yellow crossings, according 
to the standards, produce the most satisfactory 
results. 

It is sometimes difficult to find the proper mate 
to suit a hen; this must be met by changing the 
male until she becomes satisfied. When mated, they 
usually fight a little in the beginning, but if they 



61 



continue to fight too hard, the female probably will 
not accept the male ; then another male must be 
tried, until the female is suited. Sometimes, it is 
advisable to place the male near the female for two 
or three days, so that they can become used to each 
other; fighting does not always mean refusal; abso- 
lute rejection depends upon the period and degree 
of the combat; it may be merely the shy coyness 
taught by Mother Eve to entice the male. 

May and June are the ideal months for roller 
breeding. The temperature is higher, the days are 
longer; the females show much more ambition than 
in February or March; in those two months, May 
and June the weather is far more propitious. 

To begin with, the temperature of the breeding 
room should be beween 65 and 70 degrees; this 
should be uniform at all times. This room should 
be sunny and if possible, facing the East, where 
the early morning sunshine may strike it. The sun 
is the magnet around which all animal life revolves ; 
if it should cease to shine, all animal life would be 
quickly extinguished; it would be equivalent to 
turning on illuminating gas in a sleeping apartment. 
In the early morning, the hens are more eager to 
feed and care foy the young. 



62 



A nice warm atmosphei^e witTi sufficient 
moisture, is the ideal temperature of a breeding 
room. The more oxygen the air contains, the 
healthier for man and beast. If the air is too dry, 
the eggs dry up and the birds remain and die in 
the shells. By keeping a pot full of water on the 
stove and airing the room daily, without any draft 
permitted to enter, the temperature may become 
fine and healthy. Gas heat is dangerous ; also, it 
may cause a dry atmosphere; it may use up too 
much oxygen. Therefore, it must be carefully ob- 
served, tliat gas tubes do not leak ; that artificially, 
oxygen should be produced by moistened air. A 
window should be kept slightly open; providing it 
does not operate against the proper temperature of 
between 65 and 70 degrees. The oil stove must, also 
be carefully watched to prevent smoking ; the fumes 
might destroy the birds. The best heater for breed- 
ing is a small coal stove, It does not need much 
coal and burns steadily, if properly managed. The 
coal stove does not use up too much oxygen, if a 
small pail of water is placed on top of it. By far, 
the most preferable medium of heating the breeding 
room is steam heat. 

The breeding cage should be about eighteen 
inches long, in the single hatch ; about twelve inches 
high and about ten feet deep. There sliould be two 
nest boxes placed on the outside of the cage; but 



63 



accessible to the bird, through a little opening door. 
An arrangement of this kind, gives free access to tlie 
cage, without disturbing the brooding hen. 

At breeding time the hen should be placed into 
this cage first before the male. Th^i proof of her 
readiness to breed and accept a male, may be ob- 
served by her continually calling for a male ; flying 
around, with small bits and fibres in her mouth, 
looking for some spot to build her nest ; her nervcis 
anxiety and action is proof positive, that she is 
ready. If she is ripe and in good condition, lior 
stomach is a pale, light pink, lean and bare ; her 
breathing apparatus is agitated. 

Nesting material should be placed into the cage. 
Tliis should be composed of some soft material, 
usually, the fibre of hemp rope, cut into inch 
pieces, boiled in hot water to destroy vermin; thor- 
oughly unravelled and pulled apart and dried. 
Some breeders prefer deer hair or moss and charpie 
nesting material. Felt or cotton flannel prevent 
ventilation and cause the hen to sweat. White goat 
hair is used by some breeders as being insect proof; 
others use pigs' hair after it being thoroughly boiled. 
Paper, thread or wool should never be used. 

As soon as the female begins the building of 
her nest, the male should be placed into the cage; 
since she is soon ready to lay, providing she is ripe 
and in season. It is from seven to ten days before 



64 



the female lays the first egg. The male must have 
been with her at least three or four days before 
the eggs can be fertile ; some contend that it re- 
quires five days. 

There are four materials necessary to produce 
fertile eggs; one to enrich the blood; the other to 
give vitality ; another to repair wasted nerve tissues 
and supply heat and energy; another to keep the 
intestines normal and free from poisonous germs. 
Iron sulphate is the bone builder, which hens lack 
when apparently tired or lazy. Precipitated cal- 
cium phosphate is the shell maker. When they fail 
to lay, they are often unabLe to produce shell form- 
ing material fast enough; then egg material is ab- 
sorbed into the hen's system; that is why they fat- 
ten and do not lay. As a general tonic, a very 
small portion of ginger is unsurpassed; it supplies 
heat and energy; sharpens the appetite and arousea 
sexual desires. Carrots, spinach and hulled oats 
are gentle but effective laxatives. Her digestive or- 
gans must be kept in order or else she does not get 
the benefit of food. Spinach keeps the bowels clean ; 
also, it is an intestinal purifier; preventing many 
diseases, which might arise through improper food. 

In order to keep an accurate account of the 
history of each hatch, a system, similar to the dia- 
gram shown on the following page is suggested. 



>> 


4) 






L 


J^' 


■>« 


^S 








V 


^ 


13 


z 


EZ 









4^ 



1- 


CO 


c 


o^ 


O 


r'^* 
^ 









!33 









66 



Sometimes, the hen only imagines she wishes 
to lay ; then she is not yet ripe ; sometimes, she will 
lay what is known as a ''heat egg", which is not 
fertile ; if so, she usually lays if mated, a fertile ^gg 
about ten days after this. If the hen does not lay 
after beginning, for two successive days, she has 
finished laying. 

Some hens are very fastidious and hard to 
please in the choice and color of their mates; some 
hens prefer a light and others a dark male; they 
must be suited. If she fights or resists the male 
an unreasonable length of time, she will not accept 
this male ; this might continue indefinitely or for 
only a few hours. If she does not accept the male, 
the eggs are liable to be clear or barren. When 
the female accepts the male, the pair begins to show 
signs of admiration and love, by billing and cooing; 
often, the male feeding the female and carrying into 
the nest material for her to use. She is then about 
ready very soon, after the nest is completed; she 
usually sleeps upon the nest a night or two before 
the first egg is laid. 

As a rule, a good fertile egg, shows a bluish 
color, with' brown spots; but occasionally a pure, 
blue egg, without the brown dots will prove fertile. 
Generally, eggs of a gray color, without brown spots, 
are clear or barren. While laying, hens should be 
fed up in the early morning, to strengthen them; 



67 



the room should be nice and warm by laying time ; 
which is usually about. 8 o'clock. In June, when 
the nights are long and temperature warm, laying 
trouble is almost unknown. 

Some hens are of peculiar temperament, in 
keeping with the uncertainty of the fairer sex ; they 
dislike too much light near the nest; the nest box 
must then be darkened by covering it with paper 
pasted around the sides. 

The breeder should start the foundation for 
nest building, when the nest is placed into the cage 
or outside of the cage, by hollowing it out nest 
shape with his hands and making a fine, soft bed. 
The female will complete this by putting the finish- 
ing touches upon it, to suit her taste ; lining it with 
the very softest material. She will deposit her egg 
every day or every other day, before nine o'clock, 
the usual time; if she does not lay before nine 
o'clock, she probably will not lay that day. • 

If by accident, due to the carelessness of the 
breeder or birds, the shell of an egg is cracked, the 
inner soft skin will not exclude the air; therefore, 
the life of the unhatched bird will be extinguished. 

If by chance, the male bird should lose his tail 
feathers, he cannot successfully mate, until the 
tail has at least half grown in again, as the tail 
feathers of a male bird are absolutely necessary in 
mating. 



68 



Some hens and males too, eat their eggs. Such 
birds are useless for breeding purposes. It has 
been suggested by some breeders, that filling the 
empty shell of a clear egg with soap and water and 
placing it under the egg eater, is a good remedy 
to break her from this habit. It may be worth the 
experiment. But why waste time and patience 
with a hen of such habits, when there are many 
useful hens? This weakness for egg eating, has 
been attributed to the lack of nourishing food; es- 
pecially egg food. _ 

■ Some birds do not begin the process of incu- 
bation until they have finished laying. The roller 
hen commences to brood after laying the first egg. 
The best plan, is to remove the fresh egg each day 
and substitute a nest egg; which should be a clear 
egg previously laid by some hen and discarded. 
The eggs will remain fertile four or five days after 
laying; but must be kept in a cool place and re- 
moved from the nest as soon as laid. These eggs 
are removed every day then, until she has finished 
laying from two to three, four, five or even six 
eggs; so that she may begin to set upon the entire 
lot on the same day; thereby, hatching her brood 
on the same day; about the same time. By this 
method, it will avoid her bringing out a bird per 
day, if the eggs are left in the nest; as each bird 
would be hatched according to the time the egg 



09 



was previously laid. Otherwise, she will continue 
from the beginning, after the first egg, to set upon 
it; she will set steadily until the entire brood is 
hatched, one by one ; thereby neglecting to feed the 
first born; which may starve from inattention and 
neglect ; since her whole energy is usually concen- 
trated upon the unhatched eggs. 

Eemoving the eggs daily is a good system, be- 
cause if she should not prove to be a good brood 
hen, these eggs may be given to another hen. This 
plan of removing eggs is also recommended, because 
of the fact, that birds hatched at the same time, 
have an even chance of being fed, as they are of 
uniform strength and size. In cases of hens being 
allowed to set upon each egg as it is laid, she is 
liable to feed, as a rule, those birds which are first 
born and most insistent to be fed; being the older 
and stronger birds; to the neglect of younger and 
weaker nestlings. 

The hen should normally hatch her brood in 
thirteen days; however, owing to weak parents or 
unduly thick and tough shells, birds may not be 
hatched until the fourteenth or fifteenth day. If 
on the sixteenth day, she has failed to bring out 
her young from the shells, the water test may be 
used, which consists of placing the eggs into luke 
warm water. If there are young birds in the 
shells the eggs will move about feebly; if not, the 
eggs will lie perfectly motionless in the water. 



70 



. After the hen has been brooding five days, by 
holding the eggs up to the light, it can be ascer- 
tained if they are fertile or not. If they are fertile, 
the eggs will show a dark and heavy appearance; 
if clear, they will show light through the shells. 
The eggs should be handled with great care, since 
the shells are so thin and delicate, the breeder is 
liable to crush them between thumb and forefinger; 
hence, it is better and safer to use a teaspoon in 
removing eggs from a nest; except when making 
the water test or examining them as to fertility. 

The male should be removed from the breeding 
cage, after the hen has laid the third egg ; providing 
this male is to be used with other females. If not, 
and there are enough males for each female, it is 
better to leave the male in the breeding cage with 
the female and let them become permanently mated. 

Better results will usually be obtained, by per- 
manent mating; unless the male is a mean bird with 
nestlings; a bird which either eats or breaks eggs 
or kills young ones. Even such a bird is not en- 
tirely beyond redemption, if well bred and worth 
while, in other respects; either to be used as a 
teacher, or, if mated, carefully watched, by remov- 
ing eggs the first thing after laying. If the male 
is to be used for more than one hatch or for more 
than one hen, two hours a day with each hen is 
^sufficient, until the hen has laid the third egg. 




A Breeding Cage with Nests 



CHAPTErv VI. 



BREEDING 



Some males have a habit of chasing the hen 
from the nest or continually tearing up the nest 
as fast as the hen makes it. Such a bird is either 
not ripe or ready or is unfit for breeding. The male 
which feeds and proves a good father is very help- 
ful in a breeding cage; such birds do most of the 
feeding of young ones; they take care of the young 
birds, while the hen is brooding the second or third 
hatch. If the male is left in the cage after the 
third egg, the pair becomes permanently mated; 
to remove the male, after that period, might cause 



72 



the hen to leave her nest. If she should continue 
to call the male after his removal or answer his call, 
it is advisable to replace the male. 

After the birds are hatched, the female should 
have a fresh, clean nest to avoid the vermin, which 
has usually collected during the brooding period. 
Sometimes, tar rope is placed in the bottom of the 
nesting material, to keep the vermin from breeding 
to excess in the nest or hiding in it; this method 
usually proves very advantageous. Some breeders 
dust the nest with insect powder, but great care 
must be observed in the use of powder, since it will 
nauseate some hens and cause them to leave their 
nests. 

Sometimes, the hen will have egg trouble ; which 
is commonly designated as ^'egg bound". She ap- 
pears puffed up and sad looking; she will shiver as 
if pained with cramps. The stomach is swollen and 
inflamed; she does not eat much. This trouble is 
often due to eggs being too large or without a shell. 
The egg gut may not be in a healthy condition ; th^ 
temperature in the breeding room may be too low; 
the female may be too weak, from lack of nourishing 
food, or from not having had a proper chance to 
eat for a long period before laying. All these are 
the most potent causes for this trouble. 

Sometimes, eggs which appear occasionally too 
large for passage or with a double yolk or without 



73 



the outside shell, are due to lack of lime producing 
material, such as cuttle bone or egg shells, or lime 
substances from the walls of old buildings; or the 
hen did not properly digest them. Fat hens have 
this trouble often because their bowels cannot dis- 
solve the lime material on account of too much 
uric acid. These hens either lay without any or 
too thin a shell. This may also happen if the egg 
gut is inflamed, and the discharge of the glands is 
abnormal. An egg without a shell, may cause the 
inflamation of the egg duct. These troubles are 
mostly due to lack of sufficient, well selected and 
proper nourishment; as well as the improper tem- 
perature of the breeding room; also, colds from 
draughts and indigestion. With due care in the 
preparation of hens for breeding season, these 
troubles may be avoided. 

To assist a hen in such a condition, she may be 
taken in the left hand, laying her upon her back; 
then try carefully with the thumb and two fingers 
of the right hand, to push the egg out. Great care 
must be used. If the egg should be broken, the 
hen may die. At least, she will be of no further 
use, for that season, as the broken egg shell will 
rupture part of the egg gut. A mild injection of 
linseed into the laying duct, will give great relief. 
During the laying period, much of this trouble may 
be prevented by giving the hen sufficient laxative 
food. 



74 



Another method to relieve a hen in this con- 
dition, is to take her in a piece of red flannel and 
hold her over the steam of a kettle ; using due care 
not to burn or scald her. This is probably the most 
effective treatment of all. Still another remedy is 
to permit drops of cold water to fall upon the ab- 
domen. In some cases it may prove very effective ; 
but the treatment is most too drastic. To alleviate 
a hen in this predicament, many breeders place the 
hen in a warm bed after she has strengthened her- 
self by eating food. 

Sometimes, a female presses out the egg duct 
by straining. This part swells up quickly and 
is sensitive and inflamed. It should be cooled and 
cleansed with cold water and gently pressed back 
with the point of the finger, dipped in lard. For 
a few days, she must have a short, but laxative 
ration. The hanging gut may also be bathed with 
a weak solution of warm oak bark and vinegar; 
then rinsed off with luke warm water, then dried, 
by patting it gently with soft material; the gut 
should then be powdered with rosin and gently 
manipulated back again. If properly rendered, it 
will probably not come out again. 

One of the most troublesome maladies with which 
a brood hen may be afflicted is the sweat disease. 
It is sometimes due to a cold, or to indigestion; it 
may arise from a poorly ventilated nest. If a finger 



75 



is inserted under the feathers of the setting hen it 
will become wet. The nestlings whose feathers have 
also become wet and stick to their bodies as a result 
of this condition, invariably die; the old bird, 
.usually dies from her suffering. It seldom devel- 
ops however, to such an extent in a canary hatchery, 
that it cannot be cured or prevented. If a nest is 
thoroughly ventilated, there is small chance of 
sweating. 

Birds have no sweat pores and should not per- 
spire. This sickness is a disease combined with 
watery evacuations and retarded digestion; which 
may be the effect of a draft or feeding with heavy 
indigestible foods; sometimes, due also to heavy, 
coarse nesting material. 

The watery droppings are such that the female 
cannot throw or carry them out; hence the nest 
becomes filthy and damp, not only do the belly 
feathers of the old bird, but the down on the nest- 
lings also become wet. In consequence, the young 
birds freeze ; usually stop opening their mouths and 
die ; it would seem to be a form of pneumonia. 

If this sickness is noticed in time, remove the 
egg food ; give a mixture of canary, blue poppy and 
hemp seed; there should be ample warmth and 
fresh air. It is absolutely necessary, during the 
process of this malady, to completely change the 
nesting material; no soft food should be given. 



76 



It is advisable to remove the male and place 
him in a separate compartment, near the hen. He 
will call and she will leave her nest to go to him; 
thereby giving her a chance to cool the nest and 
her feathers. It is essential, that the hen should 
leave her nest during this crisis to feed herself, 
instead of the male carrying food to her. 

If ample lime and egg shells or the mortar ma- 
terial from. old, torn down buildings, and a quantity 
of raw, fat bacon, or a piece of suet had been fas- 
tened between the bars of the cage about a fortnight 
before laying time, this diesease might have been 
avoided. 

The mother bird will begin to build a new nest 
after the young birds are about three weeks old. 
Another fresh nest should be given or the old one 
thoroughly cleansed and new nesting material put 
in. Then after she begins to build, the male must 
be put in, just as before. After twenty-eight days, 
the young ones are ready to be placed in a flying 
cage. Do not hurry this change until the young 
birds can feed themselves. It is a good sign to be 
guided by as to the fitness of young birds to care 
for themselves, when the tail begins to gavel. 

While the female is brooding, she should not 
be given any egg food. Rape and canary seed 
mixed is the best, the safest and most satisfactory 
for a female while brooding. 



77 



The best time for breeding is about the first 
of May. It may be commenced in March, if the 
temperature of the breeding room is normal. Sex- 
ual desires begin in January and February. Males 
fly back and forth; they sing louder and sharper 
than usual; they call to the females in the midst of 
the song. Females pick up bits of thread and 
feathers and carry them around in their mouths 
looking for a place to build their nest. By the 




Breeding Cage Without Nests. 

plan of commencing to breed in May, the season 
may be continued up to the first of July; the 
months of July and August are too hot for breed- 
ing. It is not only a trying ordeal for the hen, 
during such hot weather, but it is the season of the 
year when the attacks of vermin are the most severe. 

Breeding is conducted in four distinct ways; 
with their various advantages and obstacles; each 
dependent upon the taste, inclinations and environ- 



78 



ments of the breeder. These systems of breeding 
consist of the single hatch, changing hatch, company 
and flying hatch. 

In the single hatch, one male and one female 
may be put into a breeding cage. The changing 




Male Singing to Brooding Hen, 

hatch means that one male is given to from three 
or four, or even five females; according to his 
strength and vitality. Under this system, the male 
only remains with a female about two hours daily; 
until the female has finally laid her third egg. By 
this plan the male always remains in full song ; while 
the single hatch may weaken the males consider- 
ably; but his offspring is strong and healthy. In 
the changing hatch, males should be given three 
or four days rest to recuperate and preserve their 



=^==z== 79 ====^i^= 

vitality, before being mated with another female; 
otherwise the eggs of the last hen mated with him 
may be clear or infertile. 

For the flying hatch, no cages are needed. The 
breeding stock is left at liberty in a suitable room 
without any restraint. The nest boxes are hung 
up on the wall ; long perches are arranged from side 
to side. The number of birds in the fllying hatch de- 
pends upon the size of tiie room. For about thirty 
females ten males are necessary. Every female will 
pick out her nest box and keep it during the breed- 
ing season. The flying hatch is the simplest; it 
requires the least work; but the results are not 
always flattering. Birds fight too much; thereby 
injuring young ones and spoiling eggs. There is 
no chance in a flying hatch to keep pedigrees and 
necessarily inbreeding is the result. 

For the company hatch large breeding cages 
are used; large enough for about three females and 
one male. The cage must be constructed in such a 
manner that partitions may be used. As one female 
lays her eggs she should be partitioned off from the 
others. As soon as the other females lay their eggs 
the male is taken out. This is not a very successful 
plan; since more than one female may wish to use 
the same nest; then a fight ensues; in consequence, 
the eggs are usually destoyed. 



80 



By far, the most successful and satisfactory is 
the single hatch; it always shows the best results. 
This system enables the breeder to accurately keep 
a pedigree of his birds and avoid inbreeding. If a 
pair does not mate happily, it is easy to change the 
male and try another. The breeding females under 
this plan, are not molested by one another. 

The flying and company hatches are designed 
more for quantity; while the single and changing 
hatches are preferred more for quality breeding. 
The flying and company hatches are systems used 
more by professional breeders, who are more con- 
cerned with numbers than class; the single and 
changing hatches are the methods used mostly by 
genuine bird fanciers; those who take pride in 
the quality of their birds. The flying and comp- 
any hatches are strictly of German origin; the 
single and changing, although imported, have been 
adopted more by the American breeders. These 
two hatches, have been chosen here to protect the 
pedigree and select crossing of stock to improve 
the breed of the roller. 

During the breeding period, the hen should be 
given a bath occasionally as it freshens her up and 
softens the thin skin under the shell of her egg; 
making it easier for young birds to burst through. 
Many birds die in the shell ; simply because they find 



81 



it impossible to burst through the tough dry skin. 
If the air in the breeding room is too dry, young 
birds are liable to die. Since the soft white skin, 
which covers the bird in the shell will shrink and 
prevent the bird from coming through. If the bird 
dies before breaking the shell, it is a sure sign, the 
bird was constitutionally too weak. This may be 
due to the poor physical condition of the male. 

No strangers should be allowed into the breed- 
ing room ; because the hen will become nervous and 
fretful. There should be no loud noise of any kind, 
while the hen is brooding; such as hammering or 
slamming of doors or the loud chugging of an auto- 
mobile. This is liable to spoil the eggs. A clap of 
thunder may render eggs absolutely worthless, by 
killing the embryo in the shell. No one should ap- 
proach the brooding hen abruptly or suddenly; the 
breeder must approach gently; it is better to chirp 
to the hen, to save unnecessary fright, since she is 
usually very nervous and susceptible to disturbance 
of any kind during this period. There should not 
be more than three hatches for each hen, to preserve 
the vitality of the stock; some breeders have been 
known to obtain as high as ten hatches from one hen. 

After males have done duty during the breed- 
ing season, they should be separated and kept in a 
darkened room to preserve their good notes; little 



82 



egg food should be given them ; occasionally, a little 
about twice a week. Too much egg food produces 
heat and sexual desire; their song then grows too 
loud. 

After the breeding season, brood hens must be 
taken especial care of. They must be fed up and 
brought back from a weakened physical condition 
to normal strength and vitality. They should be 
placed in a flying cage with plenty of room ; so that 
they can exercise and strengthen the members of- 
their debilitated bodies. The straining ordeal 




Flying Cage, 

through which they have passed, necessarily, has 
taken much from their vitality. With proper care, 
there is no reason why a brood hen should not con- 
tinue successfully to produce and rear young ones 
for a period of four or five years. Their success 



83 



in this respect, will depend upon the judgment, 
kindness and appreciation of the breeder. 

A well ventilated attic can be made into a 
splendid flying hatch and breeding room; as there 
is less noise and disturbance there. The floor of 
such a room must be tight to prevent the annoyance 
5f mice. It might also be white-washed to minimize 
and prevent the increase of vermin. 

Not too many birds should be placed into a fly- 
ing cage, since they cannot acquire the necessary 
room and vitality through flying. 




Nestlings. 

CHAPTER VII 

NESTLINGS 

On the first day, after young birds come from 
the shell, the hen does not necessarily have to feed 
them. There was enough substance in the yolk in 
the shell, to keep the young ones alive twenty-four 
hours. However, it is necessary, that the mother 
should feed them on the second day. The breeder 
should watch the crop of the nestlings to see if it is 



85 



full ; to determine whether the hen is feeding or not. 
If she does not, the breeder must help her feed them. 
This food must consist of egg food. Sometimes, 
after help, in a few days, the mother will start to 
feed. 

To help her, take the egg food as described in 
the previous chapter and make a thin paste; this 
should be mixed with the substance from the leaves 
of spinach mashed fine; this may be prepared to a 
proper temperature and thinness by adding luke- 
warm water. The feeding may be accomplished by 
using a wooden stick, dull at the end, made pliable 
by chewing it or a fine hair brush may be used. Feed 
the young birds in this manner, until the crops are 
full. Repeat this process every two hours. 

The stomach of young birds is a thin, delicate, 
membranous sack; it could not assimilate or digest 
anything but the softest and most readily digested 
food. Therefore, this paste must not only contain 
proper chemical ingredients, but must be made with 
a view to easy digestion. When the 'paste is prop- 
erly made, it may also be injected into the crop with 
a medicine dropper. One egg is enough, mixed with 
zwiebach, to feed twenty nestlings for four hours, 
when it should be changed. 

If the mother bird does not feed after the third 
or fourth day, then place these nestlings into a nest 
of some good foster mother; a female which is 



86 



known to feed. A good father will not only feed 
the young while the hen is brooding, but will also 
feed her. It is fortunate, if the breeder has several 
hens brooding at the same time. In order for the 
neglected nestlings to receive assistance of this kind, 
the young birds must be of uniform size and age 
to nestlings of the foster hen. If the nestlings are 
three or four days old, when the last ones are 
hatched, the latter will be overlooked and starve. 
Some hens are not so particular about feeding the 
young of other hens as to the exact size or age of 
adopted young ones, compared to their own. 

Sometimes hens do not feed because they are 
too fat and lazy. Oft times, they have been im- 
properly fed or are not in good healthy condition. 
Hens will sometimes refuse to feed when not satis- 
fied with their surroundings; when tliey are not 
used to the place; when there is too much noise in 
the houses of neighbors; if too many people pass in 
and out of the breeding room ; or if she is descended 
from poor stock ; also, when she has been frightened 
by a mouse. If she should be too fat and lazy, she 
must be chased from the nest to make her feed. 

Young birds artificially raised, as a rule, do not 
mature healthy and strong. It is impossible, with 
the assistance of any food, to equal or imitate that 
of the mother hen. After all, the chemical mixture, 
composed of the digested food and saliva of the hen, 



87 



containing the proper chemical material for the 
stomach of a nestling, cannot be duplicated by man ; 
it is difficult to produce in equal proportions the 
necessary substance or material to properly nourish 
the nestling. There are some especially prepared egg 
foods highly recommended by breeders, which have 
been fairly successful in raising neglected young 
birds ; most of them contain a portion of spinach. 

The young birds, if healthy, will show a pink, 
fleshy color; the insides of their beaks should be 
blood red. In a day or two, when normal and 
healthy, they should be covered with a fine, white 
down. If properly fed and nourished, they grow 
rapidly. Otherwise, or if pestered with vermin, 
they appear pale, bloodless, insipid and weak. If 
not well fed or bothered with vermin, young birds 
will always be weaklings; hence poor stock for 
breeding. 

One of the clear eggs, from some previous nest, 
should be kept under the mother until the nestlings 
are about seven days old, to keep her from setting 
too tight on the nestlings and injuring them; also 
it will give nestlings more room. This system will 
protect the young ones from beng crippled ; because 
when a hen sets too tight she is liable to break the 
wing or the leg of a young bird; or permanently 
deform young birds. 



Small leg bands are placed upon the legs of 
rollers, made of light aluminum, sometimes, plain 
and sometimes of many colors; the plain ones are 
preferable. They bear the initials of. the bird family 
or ancestors to which the youngsters belong and the 
breeder; to accurately identify the parentage and 
producer. These should be placed on the leg, after 
the young bird is old enough to throw his excrement 
over the top of the nest ; when they are eight or nine 
days old. If they are placed on before this, the 
mother, which usually cleans the nest of filth, may 
pick at the rings on the leg of a nestling thereby 
crippling it. These rings may be open or closed ; the 
open rings may be placed upon the leg later on but 
the closed ring is placed on the leg to remain per- 
manently and can only be removed by filing or cut- 
ting it ofP. The closed rings are usually the marl^ 
of identification of some experienced breeder or 
society to which the breeder is a member. 

These class bands should be placed upon the 
leg of a nestling with a great deal of care ; by some 
one who thoroughly understands how it should be 
done to avoid crippling the young bird. In order 
to successfully accomplish this feat, place the bird 
in the left hand ; lay him on his back ; hold the three 
front claws together securely, with thumb and fore- 
finger ; then slip the band, with your right hand, over 
the three claws; then gently bend the hind claw 



89 



backwards and push the band back until it slips 
over. 

A light should be kept in the breeding room, 
during the brooding time and after the nestlings 
are hatched, until about ten o'clock; to enable the 
hen to see the young ones or get off for food; since 
they do not feed in the dark. 

Later on, the egg food may be mixed with a 
portion of crushed rape seed; the addition of the 
substance of finely chopped spinach leaves, is very 
nourishing. This is not only helpful to the nest- 
ling, but is easily digested and quickly turned 
into feeding. Crushed rape seed, moistened with 
the yolk of an egg, when given the proper temp- 
erature, makes nourishing paste. The mother hen 
When fed only on seed, is compelled to partially 
digest the grain and disgorge it into the gullet 
of the offspring; this is rather difficult. Unless, 
she is therefore properly fed with soft food, the 
young ones are liable not to have sufficient food 
to support them. It is necessary however, for 
young fledglings to also have a portion of grain ; 
since it is essential to produce bone and sinew ; al- 
though the parent birds prefer the soft food. The 
partially digested seed is far more strengthening 
and health giving. It is well then, to remove the 
soft food at nght, so that parent birds will feed 



90 



some grain; but early next morniug the soft food 
must be placed into the cage again. 

Young birds arc often weakened after tlile 
feathers begin to sprout, by the hen picking these 
out to build with; sometimes, the male does this 
to provide material for a new nest. Through the 
loss of blood, strength and energy, required to grow 
new feathers, young birds remain weaklings for the 
rest of their lives. When this is observed, the breeder 
should remove the young birds from the breeding 
cage and place them in a separate compartment, so 
that the mother can feed them through the bars of 
the other cage; she is then unable to reach the 
feathers. Outside nest boxes are useful in such 
emergencies. If the young ones are placed in a 
separate cage, she will not let them starve. If the 
male is a good father, he may be placed in the cage 
with the nestlings; if a good bird, this is the better 
plan. 

After about twelve days, when the mother 
ceases to set steadily on the young ones, the tem- 
perature is very important. Care should be taken 
that the nestlings are not too cold. 

After the young birds are about twenty-two 
days old, they should be given first rape seed mixed 
with egg food, because they will now commence to 
feed themselves ; their bills are too weak to peel the 



91 



sliell from the rape seed. After twenty-eight days, 
they will eat alone. After this, they should be put 
into a large Hying cage to enable them to fly around 
and grow strong. They should not be removed how- 
ever, until the tail feathers have gr^wn long enough 
to gavel at the ends. The opportunity to Hy, for 
either young or old birds, is almost as beneficial as 
nourishing food. Many failures in breeding are due 
to the need of sufficient facilities for breeding birds. 

There should not be more than ten or twelve 
young birds placed in a cage thirty six inches long, 
fourteen inches wide and twelve inches high. They 
should have ample room to fly in. When too many 
youngsters are placed in one cage, they usually 
fight and pick feathers from one another; also, 
some epidemic or contagious disease might break 
out, if they are too thickly crowded together. 
When young birds have insufficient room for health 
and strength, it deprives them of the necessary 
vitality and nourishment for either song or breed- 
ing. To prevent young birds from picking fea- 
thers from one another, pieces of rope or string 
may be arranged to attract their attention, by 
tying the same to the bars of the cage; this 
method has proved successful, as it offers some- 
thing to play with. If there are any birds with 
bare spots, they also seem to offer a target for the 
others to pick- at. Frequently, there is some spe- 



[)2 



cial offender which delights in picking i'eathers 
from other birds. Botli the bird with the bare spot 
and the one which continually attacks his associates 
ought to be removed and placed in a seperate cage ; 
the one, to recover his feathers and the other to out- 
grow his habit. Otherwise, the blood taken from 
the shafts of feathers of young birds being sweet, 
offers an inducement to continue the habit of the 
bird which is a feather picker ; it is also very weak- 
ening to the victim. 

When about six weeks old, the young birds be- 
gin to moult; they lose the small feathers only at 
this period. When they have finished this moult, 
the young males should then be placed in small 
roller cages, about nine inches long, seven inches 
deep and six inches high, to begin their song train- 
ing. 

It sometimes requires an experienced eye to 
determine the sex of a young bird. Yellow or 
checked males are easily distinguished ; they are 
brighter and of higher color than females. Green 
males are not so quickly distinguished, as they re- 
semble the female in color and markings closely. 
As a i"iile, male canaries have a far richer, yellow 
color, encircling the eyes and beak; the head, back 
and breast are more than apt to contain patches of 
straw yellow; females are of a much lighter hue. 
The head of the male bird is broader and flatter on 



93 



the crown than the female ; the body is more slender, 
although the head has a larger, squarer and alto- 
gether harder look about it ; the eyes are also bright- 
er and more bold looking. The crown of the head 
of a female is usually high and rounded ; the color 
is usually dull or "mealy". However, when the 
young birds commence to study and attempt to sing, 
all males may be easily identified by their swelling 
throats. If it's throat swells while singing, it is a 
male without doubt. Some females also sing; as a 
rule at the end of the breeding season; their song 
is short, usually disconnected and more of a twitter. 

If the male bird fights the young ones, the 
young birds should be removed, until the male has 
a chance to perform his service with the hen for 
about two hours, then the male should be removed 
and tlie young birds put back again. Continue this 
method every day until the female has laid three 
eggs. During this process she will feed her ofl- 
spring steadily; but when she starts breeding again, 
she will not feed any more. The young birds by 
this time can eat alone, being about four weeks old. 
Egg food is given once a day, for a week ; after that, 
only once every other day; after two weeks, only 
twice a week ; they get over the first moult in about 
three weeks; they should remain in a flying cage 
about three months. 



94 



The nesting material should be changed quite 
often ; then the old nest box shoud be placed in boil- 
ing water ; colored with black carbolic ; entire new 
nesting material should be given; which should cor- 
respond, as neai^ly as possible to the old, as the hen 
sometimes, is very fastidious about it's arrangement. 
This plan will insure against the annoyance and de- 
struction of vermin. AVhenever this change is made, 
the new nest should be ready; no time should be lost 
or the hen inconvenienced or annoyed or unneces- 
sarily disturbed. 

As soon as the young birds are out of the shell, 
not only should egg food be plentifully supplied, but 
fresh nesting material given. Thistle seed and apple 
are also helpful to cause the hen to feed. The egg 
food should be changed often and the egg cup tho- 
roughly cleansed ; especially, in hot weather, to pre- 
vent the egg from becoming sour and fermenting; 
otherwise, this might cause the death of an entire 
nest. 

Mixed seed should at all times be plentifully 
supplied, so that the mother may select from a 
variety. This will stimulate and encourage feed- 
ing during the breeding season. 

The nestlings must be watched often to see that 
tiiey do not fall to the bottom of the cage or get 
there too soon before they are able to fly or that 
the old bird does not accidentally throw them out. 



95 



If that should happen, they must be put back as 
soon as possible. If they should lie too long on 
the bottom of the cold cage, they might have a 
small chance of recovery. Even if put back some- 
times, this undue exposure may impair their growtli 
and health ; this may continue iintil and even after 
maturity. The female has neither the strength nor 
intelligence to replace them. 

The longer young birds remain in the nest, sub- 
ject to the care of the mother hen, the healthier 
and stronger they become. If removed too soon, 
they often die. The majority of young birds leave 
the nest when about eighteen days old; but it is 
preferable if they remain there until they are twen- 
ty one days old; those which remain, as a rule, 
develop faster and healthier. 

If the female wishes to build a new nest, before 
the young birds have left the nest, if not prepared 
before, another nest box should be attached to the 
cage on the other side ; she must then receive plenty 
of nest building material to prevent her from prey- 
ing upon the feathers of her young ones. Some- 
times, she will, for this purpose, if not plentifully 
supplied with nesting material, snatch feathers from 
the male bird, if with her, or even from her own 
feathers. 

One of the most dangerous maladies which con- 
fronts a breeder, is the contagious inflamation of 



96 



the bowels of nestlings. In this ^condition, the 
abdomen appears brown up, the breast eaves in, the 
intestines are swollen and appear black, knotted 
and twisted. In the beginning, nestlings appear to 
thrive and get along nicely ; they have full crops and 
start to feather up. Suddenly, one nestling after 
another, loses it's feathers, breathes slower, is af- 
flicted with cramps and in a few days, the whole 
nest is lost. During the process of this fatal malady, 
the stool of the young bird is greenish black in 
color; the dead very soon decay. This sickness is 
of an epidemic character. 

The causes are the putting into the heck, birds 
afflicted with liver disease; too much crowding in 
the breeding room; too low a temperature in the 
room; sometimes, loose fastenings on the windows, 
which permit sharp drafts to enter; also giving too 
much soaked food. There is hardly any reliable 
cure for this malady. However, the breeder can 
readily avoid the oi-igin, source and conditions which 
produce such fatal results; by preventing the above 
mentioned causes; being forewarned is to be fore- 
armed. 



CHAPTER VIIT. 
TRAINING YOUNG BIRDS 

The song of young birds will principally depend 
upon their breeding; they usually inherit the talent 
essential to fine melody ; in proportion to the quality 
of their ancestors. But this is only a potential 
possibility; their success or greatness as songsters, 
must depend upon their musical tuition; it must be 
received from a competent teacher; which is known 
as a vorsinger. A vorsinger is the college educa- 
tion of young birds. Their powers of inherited 
imitation, are very acute. They are just as liable 
to imitate and acquire the call of mating males and 
females, the chirp of a sparrow, or the cry of the 
cricket, as the melody of the most gifted vorsinger ; 
hence the absolute necessity of placing the young 
males in a segregated position, where they can hear 
only their teacher. This teacher should be an ex- 
cellently chosen, fine singing bird ; with few, if any 
loud or false notes. The vorsinger should be of the 
same or similar stock as the young male, if possible. 
If such a bird can be secured, better results may be 
obtained. 



98 




A V or singer; the real teacher. 



The young birds should be placed on a shelf, 
near this teacher or vorsinger. The better and higher 
quality the vorsinger is, the better singing results 
will be obained from the young birds. They will 
pretty accurately reflect the shadow of their teacher ; 
espeeally, if he is of the same strain;. since the apple 
n^ver falls far from the tree. It is far better, that 
the young rollers and their teacher should be in a 
separate room ; beyond hearing distance of calling 
males and females. Hearing the call of mating 
males and females, which usually are in a loud and 



99 



boisterous tone, exerts an evil influence. Such 
sounds not only distract the attention of studying 
males, but usually are more easily acquired and 
copied than the pure tones of the vorsinger. 

The teacher should be selected from the very 
best attainable; even if he should command a high 
price. For the wonderful effect and influence of 
a good vorsinger upon the young males, price should 
l)e of small consideration; even if he is expensive, 
it will be cheaper iii the end. After all, the highest 
is the cheapest, if the quality is the best. "I 

"in the month of September, after flying for a 
period of three months, breeders usually remove 




Training Cage. 



100 



young birds from the large flying cage to the roller 
boxes; a small cage about nine inches long, seven in- 
ches wide and six inches high. The young males will 
soon get used to this cage. The object of the small 
cage is to compel young males to confine their talents 
to learning to sing; to cease their trifling and play. 
Breeders gradually commence to darken this small 
cage an hour or so at a time. This may be done, 




StKcl]/ Cahinef (open) 



101 



by placing a number of young birds upon a slielf, 
in a row ; then covering them with a dark green 
cloth; or the small cage may be placed in a roller 
cabinet; this is a dark outer covering for the cage; 
with holes cut in the front, to admit some air and 
light. This box is so constructed to about fit the 
small cage. A cabinet holding six or eight roller 
cages may be built from an oblong box, upright, with 
doors made at each side, to close even, then placing 
the two halves upon hinges; in such a manner, that 
the two doors close in front like a wardrobe; with 
holes cut out for light and air. It Is a simple con- 
trivance and can be made by any one. A cabinet 
of this construction can be easily cleansed wdth soap 
and hot water to remove vermin. 

This darkening process is an absolute necessity ; 
to give the young birds an opportunity to study. 




Study Cahinet (closed) 



102 



Even with the most select stock, no bird will cor- 
rectly learn his tours or become a great singer with- 
out both the darkening process and the assistance 
of a good vorsinger. The vorsinger is the master 
mind of the young bird ; he teaches him his choicest 
melodies. He must be chosen because of the super- 
iority of his tours; the more perfect he is, the better 
his pupils must be. Neither can a roller become a 
show bird if exposed at all times to the light or 
without complete darkness. If permitted to remain 
too much in the open light, an excellent bird chosen 
from the most select stock must eventually become 
a common singer. During the training season, birds 
with sharp or improper notes must also be removed 
beyond hearing of young birds. 

The vorsinger should possess deep, clear, soft, 
lull notes; he should be a constant singer and placed 
in such a position, where he can neither see or be 
seen by the young males. His song should be com- 
posed, if possible, principally, of the Knorre, Hohl- 
rolle, the Wasserrolle, the Schockel, the Flute, and 
the Bell Rolle. With such an instructor, the suc- 
cess of the young males, if their breeding is of good 
stock, is well assured. There are birds, which may 
have some of the above good tours, that should be 
declined as vorsingers, because they produce the 
' ' di pf eif en " or ' ' di pipes ' ' and a loud klingel. With 
all things considered, the vorsinger, which brings 
his melody, in soft, low, changing tours, usually with 



103 



bill closed, is the one to be most desired. For A\^ell 
assured success, such a bird is indispensable to the 
man who trains young rollers; but a bird of tliis 
calibre is not only rare but difficult to procure. 

To preserve a vorsinger and obtain from hiiii 
the choicest melody he should not be mated; but 
kept for that purpose alone; mating him is liable to 
produce loud music. He should be kept apart until 
needed, where he will not be unduly excited by 
hearing the call of females in season. Once a good 
singer is spoiled, he hardly ever regains his good 
harmony. Therefore, the breeder should see to it 
that one or two good vorsingers should be kept in 
reserve ; that their moulting period does not conflict 
with their readiness and condition to teach young 
birds at the proper time. 

The months of October and November are 
the most important of the roller breeders' seasons 
for training young males, and for bird contests, as 
this is the time they come into full song. This is 
the period, to prepare young birds to receive proper 
tuition, with the utmost care. They are prepared 
at this time for the annual bird shows, which are 
usually held during the month of December. 

Many of the breeders are members of l)ird or- 
ganizations which hold these exhibitions; in whicli 
birds are rated according to the merits of their tours. 
They are judged in sets of four. Each contestant 



104 



brings a quartette representing four of his best 
birds; each bird gets his rating according to the 
number and quality of tours he sings. The highest 
rating, is thirty-two points. If a contestant secures 
between twenty-three and thirty-two points, he re- 
ceives a blue ribbon; if under that, between fourteen 
and twenty-two points, a red ribbon. Some breeders 
succeed occasionally, in having a blue ribbon at- 
tached to each of the cages of their four birds. If 
a bird receives between six and thirteen points, he 
earns a third prize; but nothing between one and 
five points. 

These annual exhibitions, with song contests, 
are designed to give members only, an opportunity 
to compare the merits of their birds with those of 
other breeders. These trials are keenly contested; 
the rivalry is very strong. The birds are usually 
well prepared; perchance, they have received a 
thorough preparation. 

Judges, who are experts, are chosen to decide 
the various tours of the contestants. As a rule, they 
are men of long experience, whose hearing is very 
acute in identifying and distinguishing both genuine 
and defective tours. The birds to be judged are 
taken to a separate room ; no one is allowed to enter, 
except the judges, during the judging, not even the 
exhibitors. Each bird is rated so many points in 
proportion to the class, number and quality of the 
tours, and the manner in which he brings them. He 



105 



may also be penalized with demerits for faulty tours. 
Birds are disqualified which bring false notes; also, 
those which stop short, but begin again, without 
carrying the tour to an end. Birds which have fine 
repertoires, but whose connections or blending of 
different tours are not well made ; those which sing 
with too much exertion or make call notes during 
their tours; or if hoarse or indistinct; or if the bill 
is open too widely in delivering tours ; or if he shakes 
or quivers to an unusual extent, he is either dis- 
qualified or penalized according to the nature and 
extent of his failure. 

The tours known as the HohlroUe, Koller and 
Knorre receive the highest marks; each one of which 
receives nine points. A bird may be penalized nine 
points which brings the Schnetter and Schnatter and 
six points for the Schnarr and Nose Tours. A bird 
of the thirty-two point class must be considered 
perfect. Not many birds are capable of earning 
this full award. Gold and silver medals, silver cups 
and lithographed diplomas embossed in fancy colors, 
are given the winners of the different classes. 

Birds in preparation for this contest must be 
kept well darkened, quite a period before the con- 
tests; except for an hour or so at a time. The in- 
experienced bird fancier might remark that this is 
cruel treatment. However, the ifoller thrives in 
semi-darkness and seems to accept his training 
ordeal as a mere matter of experience. In their 



106 



training, the bird candidates are changed occasion- 
ally, to different parts of the house, to accustom them 
to new and strange surroundings. They are also 
permitted to see strangers to prevent them from 
being afraid, nervous and uneasy, when stared at 
by spectators or taken to their contest in the judgef^' 
room. They are fed during this preparation upon 
select rape seed and a small ^'"antity of canary seed; 
once a week, a few corns of hemp and every da'^ a 
small quantity of egg and zweibach mixed. The 
day before the exhibition, they must be kept as quiet 
and dark as possible. By this method, when they 
are uncovered for judging, they immediately bpgiri 
to sing. 

Young male birds commence to study even be- 
fore the first moult at about six weeks of age. Their 
■ training, prior to this, is not considered of the utmost 
importance; as they are liable to forget a part of 
what was acquired before that period. But the real 
training begins as the first moult terminates. 

In Germany, several bird organs have been in- 
vented for the teaching of young birds. The princ'- 
pal organ is made with two round, sheet iron 
cylinders, one inside the other; in the lower com- 
partment, there is a quantity of water. This organ 
is adjusted in such manner, by pulleys and weights, 
so as to cause the upper portion to gradually settle 
downwards; the air being slowly expelled through 
a whistle; which produces numerous variations of 




Bird Organ. 



108 



tone and melody. The whistle is so constructed, 
that it produces a great variety of notes. 




Latest German Bird Organ. 

German breeders have claimed great credit for 
the success of their bird organs ; many varieties of 
small mouth whistles, filled with water, have also 
been constructed by breeders to produce melody; 
successful in proportion to the inventive genius and 
mechanism of the breeder. Young birds are easily 
aroused to enthusiasm by the harmony of the flute, 
piano and organ. They seem to prefer violin re- 
cords upon the victrola; the effect of well chosen 
victrola music, whether a violin or flute is certainly 
beneficial ; it stirs the youngsters to try their choicest 
melodies. 

In former years, the training of young male 
rollers was greatly influenced by the song of the 



109 



lark, niglitingale aud thrusli. Then the best singers 
of the canaries were selected to breed from ; until 
this wonderful melody of the roller was established. 
While many devices and inventions of musical in- 
struments, and the songs of other birds have been 
used to teach the young roller, no system has ever 
yet ecjualled the remarkable influence and success 
of to-day of a thoroughly good vorsinger, the 
natural melody of his ancestors. 




Young Rollers Listening to Low Violin and Flute Records. 



CHAPTER IX. 
TOURS 

The reputation of a breeder depends upon the 
melody and quality of his singing birds. To be 
successful, it is necessary for every breedea* to 
thoroughly familiarize himself with the tours of the 
roller. Unless his ear is educated to the distinction 
of tours, so that he can separate and distinguish the 
good from the bad, his breeding for quality birds 
must be a failure. He must acquire a fine sense of 
sound discrimination. The ordinary observer, inex- 
perienced ancL unacquainted with the melody of the 
I'oller, is unable to distinguish the counterfeit from 
the genuine tour; to him all tours sound alike; he 
hears a whole inseparable song; he knows, that the. 
bird only sings his song in higher and lower tones; 
some of them sounding very nice, while others do 
not. But with the breeder, experience must teach 
him the nicety of distinction between melody and 
noise 

There are certain indispensable principles ob- 
served in roller tones, which are as fixed as the 
planets. A bird, no matter how well he renders 
a tour, must not hold it too long. This is one of 



Ill 



the first principles a breeder must learn in the pre- 
paration of his birds for the exhibition. He must 
further learn, that a prima bird should begin his 
tour with a nice, easy roll, ascending and descending 
with smooth connections; it must be soft and low; 
most of his harmony being sung with his bill closed. 
The rendition or process of delivery must depend 
upon the manner in which he blends his tours to- 
gether. A show bird may also start his tour with 
a fine Pfeifen; it may be either deep or high, soft 
or low ; but it must be clear and bell like. The 
principal part of a prima singer is the Knorre or 
bass roll. The bird with the deep tones, other 
things being equal, is the most valuable. After the 
Knorre and water roll, properly rendered, all other 
parts of his tour might be called the trimmings. 

Birds differ not only in the quality, but in the 
individual characteristics of their vocal attainments. 
Personality, in the conception, interpretation, and 
delivery of a bird's melody, depends upon it's breed- 
ing and training. The roller, similar to human be- 
ings, may be endowed with a fine medium or basi 
voice. The difference in compass and register ofc' 
roller voices, may be a very marked contrast; some 
birds singing much higher and lower than others: 
some birds confining their melody to sweet, low 
music, while others predominate in the depth of a 
heavy bass roll. You might distnguish the high 
tenor with the Pfeifen; the soprano with his bell 



112 



tours ; the contralto with the hollowrolle ; the bass, 
with his Knorre. A good bird may have some tones 
in all of these registers; such a bird would be ex- 
tremely rare; but the roller with a deep Knorre, 
does not usually prefer the high register; nor does 
the bird with the fine voice favor the deep register. 
The softer, deeper and sweeter his tones, with a slow 
deliberate delivery, is the more preferable and valu- 
able bird. 

It is necessaray for a quality bird to have the 
HohlroUe or bass roll. In cases where the HohlroUe 
appears in different registers, ascending and descend- 
ing, or even bent, and the song is soft, without 
glaring fault — , here then you have a prima songs- 
ter. A bird could be a first class songster without 
the Pfeifen, when he has roll tours, but he could 
hardly be a first class bird, with only the Pfeifen 
without the Knorre or bass roll. 

The voice of the roller is formed in the syriax 
and not in the larynx, as is more popularly believed. 
The back portion of the syrinx of a song bird, resem- 
bles a peculiar, hollow chamber, covered with a thin 
elastic membrane; the air from the lungs, just as in 
a wind instrument, starts the elastic membranes 
vibrating; this gives rise to musical notes or har- 
mony. The class or quality of this melody is deter- 
mined by the tension regulated by the contraction 
or enlargement of the muscles. In this manner, the 



ii:j 



voice is modified with soft or low, loud or shrill, 
deep or high song. The construction and system 
of this vocal apparatus, bears a remarkable resem- 
blance to certain wind instruments; the method of 
procedure in producing harmony upon the cornet, 
flute and piccolo, is similar to the system used by 
the song bird. With such delicate organs, in the 
production of melody, it is absolutely necessary 
that the entire pulmonary system of the songster 
must be clear and pure, to obtain it's best efforts. 
The voices of wild birds, serve to express various 
emotions, such as distress, fear, anger, triumph or 
mere happiness; sometimes to excite terror. 

The Hohlrolle, soft, as well as full and deep, 
should be sung with the bill closed. If this tour is 
started in a deep voice, then gradually ascending 
higher and higher, then gently descending again, 
it produces a wonderful effect. The tones should 
be formed in and emanate from the throat. This 
method is the very best evidence of the roller's 
breeding and cultivation; it is the very essence and 
foundation of good roller singing. But different 
birds in different parts of the country, influenced, 
no doubt, by different blood strains, render the 
same tours differently. It depends upon the breed- 
ing and training of young birds, as to the quality 
and class of melody they produce. 

There are many classifications of the number 
and nomenclature of the tours; but there are pro- 



114 



bably eleven main tours. Extra tours have been 
created in the imagination of different breeders. 
These classifications have developed often in differ- 
ent localities and designated as separate tours when 
they are but slight variations from the eleven main 
tours. 

The main tours which now comprise the whole 
song of the roller, are HohlroUe, Hohlklingle, 
Schockle, Knorre, or bass roll, Klingel, Klingel roll, 
Roller, Wasserrolle, Gliicke, Pfeifen, Schwirrie. The 
Koller bird, which used to be raised with such care, 
is practically extinct. All breeders claim it is very 
rare to hear a bird now sing with this tour; only 
birds of the highest quality produced it; it is con- 
tended by some, that this note is extinct. It is pos- 
itively asserted, that in America we have no bird 
which can successfully bring. this tour to perfection. 
Also, birds with the genuine Wasserrolle and Gliicke 
wheii properly rendered, are seldom met with. In 
earlier years, the above named tours were greatly 
added to and even multiplied by breeders who let 
their fancy run riot. This incessant multiplication 
of tours, was due to the anxiety of breeders, to 
achieve renown in producing a new tour. In con- 
sequence of which, a great variation of tours was 
invented. One often heard of the '*heue", ''laeh", 
"wein", "weiher", "hengst", and the **frog rolle*'; 
they were but slight variations from the basic tours. 
Now these variations are not recognized or distin- 



11; 



u'liished as individual tours. If we seek to make 
extra classifications one might find excellent oppor- 
tunity in the observation of the Hohlrolle ; such as 
the bent Hohlrolle, translated Hohlrolle or the one, 
Iwo, three, four variations of ascending and descend- 
ing HohlroUes. 

However, without the Hohlrolle, Knorre or 
WasserroUe, no good, quality roller song can be 
sung. It depends on how long a bird sings the 
Hohlrolle tour. Short Hohlrolle cannot be judged 
very high ; the longer it is delivered, the better it is. 
The climbing and falling Hohlrolle is far more 
valuable than the straight; it must be delivered with 
the bill closed; only the throat must swell up. It's 
l)erfect rendition is the very essence of good harm- 
ony. The R is the characteristic mark of every roll 
tour ; but it must be neither harsh nor loud ; it must 
be full, clear and soft; the R must be plainly, but 
softly discerned. If it is delivered too hard or 
rasping, the Hohlrolle loses in value. 

The perfect Hohlklingel which has been met 
with in late years to some extent, was taken origi- 
nally from the deep Hohlrolle. Through the strain- 
ing of birds for deeper Hohlrolle they began even- 
tually to produce a deeper klingel. The Hohl- 
klingel, is not only highly essential, but is one of 
the prettiest tours of the roller song. 



116 



To the famous tours of the roller belongs the 
Knorre; which furnishes the bass for the roller 
song. Real good Knorre should start on Knorr 
or better still on Quorr; without stop, with a full, 
round voice carried through. But if out of the 
Knorr or Quorr, 'it goes into a Knarr or Quarr, 
the value of the tone is very much lessened. 

As sweet and impressive as the Knorre is, it 
must not become the main tour of the roller song. 
As a whole tour, it would detract from the general 
effect of a bird's melody. It must be used only as 
a connecting tour; to blend the bass, soprano or 
tenor of his tones; which produces a far better effect. 
The vowels of this tour are and U, connected 
with the R. It may be either a hard, loose, fiat or 
dry Knorre; it is classified in accordance with the 
number of vowels and consonants used. 

Out of the Klingel, comes the most tours of 
the roller song. In earlier years, much pr^'isc was 
given to a good Klingel bird. To become effective, 
a genuine Klingel should be sung in a clear, bell 
like tone; a bent Klingel is impossible. This tour 
can ascend and may be changed by the bird falling 
into one tone deeper; then starting to ascend again. 
The Klingel roll is produced in a quicker tempo; 
it is quite similar to the Hohlrolle; it can be made 
to ascend or descend; in fact, it is nearest to the 
Hohlrolle in relationship. 



117 



The Koller was probably the quoiMi of all song 
tours; it was said to be one of the sweetest and 
rarest of all the tours. While this tour may be 
said to be almost extinct, it is possible by select 
breeding to revive it again. 

The Wasserrolle is easily distinguished ; it takes 
the name after the sound of splashing water; no 
tour is really complete without it; it is almost the 
foundation tour of the roller. 

The Gliicke is something on the style o.f the 
water roll; but the notes are rendered in a slower 
tempo. 

The Pfeifen is a clear, mellow, bell like tour. 
If the water roll is the foundation of the house, the 
Pfeifen is the trimming. It is really the interesting 
and entertaining part of the song. It is also useful 
as rest pauses. This tour is usually sung when 
another tour is ended and a new one about to start ; 
if the bird is not using it to blend or connect with 
other tours for it's song. The quieter and slower it 
is sung, the more valuable it is. But the roller must 
not use the Pfeifen more than three or four times. 
It is better when sung in low deep tones, dii, du, dau; 
not so good when higher as ti, tii, tu. The dow, dow 
flute is the best ; the di, di flute is defective ; especi- 
ally when it is sharp. The latter are sometimes 
referred to as the ''di pipes" and will cause any 



118 



I'reeder to shun a bird using them as a teacher; 
such a vorsinger, with this evil influence, might 
snoil a room full of studying males- 

Tlie ])rima bird always uses his consonants to 
blend and modulate his song; but the vowels are 
the substantial material for his repertoire ; the con- 
sonants are the wood work of the construction ; the 
vowels are the stone foundation. 

The Schwirrie is nothing more nor less than a 
wrecked Klingel roll in the nature of an accident 
tour; therefore it is often called "Lispelroll". This 
tour sounds like si, si. But the name Schwirrie is 
the right name. 

There are many defective and faulty tours 
which may spoil the best songster. The Schnatter, 
8chnarre, Schnetter, Aufzug, are deflective tours. 
They are composed of faulty and tangled up notes. 
They lessen the value of even otherwise good ])irds 
to a great extent. If bad enough the above defec- 
tive tours or bad notes may destroy the usefulness 
of any bird. The Sharp Bell, Hard and Sharp Bell 
Roll, Sharp Flutes, Hard Schwirrie are false notes 
which earn a penalty ; such defects not only dis- 
qualify a bird from the possibility of exhibition, 
if bad enough, and detract from his personal value, 
but render him absolutely unfit, where other young 
birds may hear him. 



119 



It is generally agreed, that a prima bird to have 
serious consideration, for class and quality, must 
have at least three main tours. The Knorre or 
Hohlrolle has the preference. The more good tours 
a bird sings, as a matter of course, the more valuable 
he is; the more bad ones he brings, the less valuable. 
One singer cannot bring all the good tours. It 
would be impossible to combine them all in one song. 
The deeper, sweeter and softer he renders his tours, 
the more valuable; also, the louder and more harsh 
he delivers his song, the less valuable. 

There are also other bad tours, while well meant, 
are poorly executed. These are as defective and 
harmful in the estimation of song value as tours 
which are emphatically forbidden; such as the sharp 
bell, strong Schwirrie, loud and sharp flute notes ; 
also rasping nasal tones are strictly prohibited. Of 
course, the more of these the roller sings, the less 
service he can render either as a teacher or show 
bird. Entirely faultless singers are very scarce ; 
also, defective songsters are plentiful. When a rol- 
ler has a deep, clear sounding voice, a few little 
faults do not matter. He may even sing one or two 
bad notes, if otherwise endowed witb perfect tours. 
But if a bird with higher vocal tones should bring 
them, they are more easily detected. Such a bird 
is of no value to the experienced bird fancier. He 
not only becomes harmful to studying young males, 
he may even spoil a season's hatch. 



120 



When a good note is missing in the stock of a 
breeder, he should get a bird from a fellow breeder 
which produces that tone to improve and increase 
the variety of tours in his breeding establishment. 

The following list of tours, consisting of merit 
and demerit tours, as accepted and classified by 
some of the orthodox bird societies, with their per- 
centage of ratings at exhibitions, are given below: 



Merit Tours: ... 

Hollow Roll (Hohlrolle) to 9 Points 

Hollow Bell (Hohlklingel) to 6 Points 

Shockle (Schoekel) to 6 Points 

Flute (Pfeifen) to 6 Points 

Knarrow (Knorre) to 9 Points 

Bell Roll (Klingelrolle) to 3 Points 

Bell (Klingel) to 3 Points 

Soft Shwirr (Weiche Schwirre) to 1 Point 

Water Roll (Wasserrolle) to 6 Points 

Gluck (Glucken) to 6 Points 

KoUer (Koller) to 9 Points 
Delivery and Harmony of Songs 

(Vortrag) to 3 Points 

Total Points for Valuable Notes 

(Zusammen Bewertungspunkte) 



121 



Demerit Tours: 

Sharp Bell (Spitze Klin^^el) to -l Points 
Hard and Sharp Bell Roll (Harte 

und Scharfe Kling-elrolle) to )> Points 

Slurr (Aufzug) to o I'oints 
Sharp Flutes (Scharfe und 

Spitze Pfeifen) to .'i Points 

Hard Shwirr (Harte Schwirre) to 3 Points 

Nose Tours (Nasenturen) to o Points 

Shnarr (Schnarre) to 6 Points 

Shnetter and Shnatter to 9 Points 

Total Points for False Notes 

(Zusammen Entwerfungspunkte) 
Remaining Valuable Points 

(Bleibende Wertpunkte) 
Grade (Preis) 

Both the variety and ratings of tlic above to^irs 
are often changed and modified to meet the opinions, 
tastes and requirements of the different societies. 
But they are substantially the same. 



CHAPTER X. 

TOURS 

The tours of the roller have become an exact 
science. They have been carefully classified, diffei^- 
entiated and appraised. Such has been the demons- 
trated nicety of musical distinction -in roller tones, 
that a school of instruction has been established by 
The United Canary Breeders of America, which is 
held every third Saturday of the month. This is 
presided over by three competent instructors chosen 
for their expert knowledge by this association; in 
which acute hearing, accurate rating and long ex- 
perience in tone interpretation are the main factors. 
At present this college of instructors consists of 
Alexander Volkommer, the president, Albert Greis- 
bach and Max Stein. 

The object of this school is to fit and prepare 
less experienced breeders for the important mission 
of presiding as future judges in bird shows; to 
thoroughly familiarize the students with the correct 
valuation of the various merits and demerits of 
good and bad tours. In this manner a fixed stan- 
dard of the relative virtues and defects of roller 



123 



soiig may be more accurately studied and determin- 
ed; both by discussion and comparitive ratings of 
the various tours. 

At a meeting of these judges, members bring 
seta of birds; each judge makes his separate rating 
of individual tone valuation; to determine by a 
general average, the number of points a collection 
of birds may be allotted. The United Canary 
Breeders of America, came to an agreement, that 
any collection of birds was limited to three hundred 
and eighty -four points. It was determined that every 
judge could not fix his own limit or use his own 
discretion in the rating of tours; otherwise one 
thousand points might be the limit unless some 
fixed standard was definitely established. 

The scale in which thirty-two points is the high- 
est limit, is not to be the everlasting standard; 
changes in this standard are now being considered. 
Thirty-two points is the limit wherein only one 
judge presides; if three judges preside the scale 
would be ninety-six points as the highest standard 
for one perfect bird; this is arrived at by each in- 
dividual judge independently marking each one of 
the birds thirty-two points. When this occurs, the 
highest limit for a collection of four perfect birds 
then would be three hundred and eighty-four points. 
This rule was, established by The United Canary 



124 



Breeders of Aiiiericii to .supersede tlieir former seale 
and now generally prevails. 

Formerly, according to the rule of this associa- 
tion, ninety points were the highest marks for a 
single bird, where there judges presided, and three 
hundred and sixty points was the highest limit 
awarded to a collection of four perfect birds; then 
a single judge, by this scale, awarded thirty points 
to each perfect bird. 

For example, to show how the points for single 
and collective rating is arrived at under the new 
scale, with thirty-two points for a single bird, with 
one judge presiding and ninety-six points for each 
single bird with three judges presiding, each judge 
gives his individual rating, which might be, for in- 
stance, thirty points by one judge, twenty-nine points 
by another, then thirty-two by the third; then the 
total average for a single bird would be ninety-one 
points. Now in a collection of four birds, each one 
of which received the above average, there would be 
a total of three hundred and sixty-four points for 
the entire collection of four birds. This system of 
marking is arrived at by adding together the total 
single rating of each of the three judges; then final- 
ly multiplying that total by four, which represents 
the collection of the four birds entered for exhibi- 
tion. 



125 



In order to become a duly accredited and com- 
petent judge, to preside at any bird show given 
under the auspices of The United Canary Breeders 
of America, every candidate must not only attend 
this school of instruction regularly, but pass a 
severe critical examination in classifying and de- 
termining genuine and false notes of roller tours. 
The test of this examination for judgeship is not 
alone sufficient; there is another ordeal of qualifi- 
cation. After the certification of the examiners as 
to the fitness and capacity of the applicant to dis- 
tinguish and discriminate the entire gamut of roller 
tones, to competently assume the duties of judge- 
ship. The United Canary Breeders of America, if 
satisfied as to the candidate's integrity, finally signi- 
fies it's approval by bestowing a diploma upon the 
successful applicant ; which entitles him to the priv- 
ilege of qualifying as a judge at bird shows given 
by this association. Would it not be well for dog 
and horse shows, race tracks and prize fighting 
regulations to follow the wise example of this fede- 
ration? If the same care were exerted in similar 
animal pastimes and exhibitions, less dissatisfaction 
would follow the judging of entrants and competi- 
tors. The public would have more confidence in 
adjudicated results; there would be fewer scandals 
and less form reversals! 



126 



There is no rule, as to the sequence of a roller's 
tours ; each bird will begin and end his song to suit 
his taste, training and inclination ; dwelling upon 
those favorite octaves and registers, which seem 
to satisfy and amuse him ; blending these tours with 
connecting tones best calculated to lesson the vocal 
effort or strain and give him sufficient rest pauS|evS,. 
Some birds begin with the high, others with deep; 
notes; some with low soft tones; others with flute 
notes ; those beginning with low tones usually excel 
in a contest; also, they are far more preferable.. 
Flute notes are not so attractive at the commenccr 
ment of a song. .^ , 

It is interesting to consider and examine the 
various impressions of sound produced by the roller 
in singing the different tours. The Schockle sounds 
like "lue, lue, lue, lue,"; also it may deviate into 
this, "lu, lu, lu, lu"; the tempo is closely allied iid^ 
the low steady running of a shuttle. The Glucke 
reminds one of the noise caused by water slowly 
dripping from the mouth of a well filled bottle; this: 
tone sounds like the noise of, '*gluk-gluk-^luk-gluk".: 

There are three different distinct kinds of 
Glucks; viz: the Hollow, the Water, and the Knar- 
row Glucke. In the Hollow Glucke, the vowel XT' 
predominates; in the Water Glucke, the main tmir 
is heavily tinged with the sound of splashing water;; 



127 



the Knarrow Glucke is delivered in an extra deep 
bass voice ; the notes must not lag, but be sung in 
quick su<?cession. 

The Flute notes vary from "di, di", or ''do, do, 
do", or "dow, dow, dow"; which recall the soft 
tones of the flute or the piccolo. The Knarrow 
seems to sound like ''Orrorrorr", or "Urrurrurr"; 
if delivered in a deep clear voice, it reminds one of 
the tuneful notes of the saxaphone. The climbing 
and falling Hollowroll sounds like "ru, ru, ru," or 
''rue, rue, rue" or if very deep like "ro, ro, ro"; 
it may be likened to the eloquent tones of the violon- 
cello. The Bell tour sounds very much like the 
low, soft jingling of many tiny bells. 

The full effect of the roller song is determined 
by the main tours ; the substantial part of his song ; 
but this melody of continuous combination is great- 
ly influenced by the blending or connecting bars 
throughout the full song. If the connecting links 
are not smooth and clear, tastefully selected to off- 
set the principal tours, the entire melody will not 
only lose in value, but appear as an ordinary song. 

There is a number of tours very similar in 
sound and execution; they are so closely allied 
when delivered with the individual interpretation 
and peculiarities of some birds, it is quite often 
difficult to distinguish them. In such instances, the 



128 



hollow bell when delivered by a bird with deep 
tones, may be mistaken for the HoUowroU ; at other 
times, this tour may be mistaken for the Schockle; 
the Knarrow, Hollowrolle, WaterroU and Glucke, 
might be misjudged for the KoUer and vice versa. 

Nose tones are produced with a nasal sound; 
many good tours may be tainted with these nasal 
tones. If so, they lose in value. Birds with the 
zitt and chapp cannot be classified as rollers; they 
are barred altogether from roller exhibitions. 

Chirp notes are sure indications of birds not 
being thoroughly roller bred stock. These bad notes 
"Like Banquo's ghost will not down"; they are the 
evil influence through heredity of the wild canary; 
the momentary return to atavism. But this rep- 
roduction of savage ancestry is rapidly becoming 
extinct. By select breeding, in course of time, it 
will be entirely obliterated. 

Let us consider an ideal combination of tours; 
by describing tlie possibility of chosen melody; the 
song one would like to hear. It might be as follows : 
First commencing with a very deep Knarrow, low 
and soft; this to l)e followed with a medium Hollow- 
roll, gradually ascending and descending; followed 
by a deep Hollowroll ; then a very deep Hollowbell ; 
then the Glucke; this to be set off with a medium 
Schockle; this toui' followed with clear flute notes; 



129 



then the Koller ; this followed with a deep Knarrow. 
Such a song would not only be a perfect combina- 
tion of beautiful music, but a wonderful combina- 
tion of the most pleasing tours. Drawing upon the 
effect produced as to the comparitive registers cor- 
responding to the human scale of music, the im- 
pression created by the above wonderful combina- 
tion might be described in music as follows: 



\ioliow9oll 



Ateendin^ and ducendiry 









^Uke 



Siktck, 



^ 



UoltoPBill 



KalUr 



Knar 



Z^l 



^ 



^f# 



One of the most impressive and striking fea- 
tures of the roller's melody is the wonderful judg- 
ment of time. Not only the keen observer, but 
the thorough musical artist is amazed at this mar- 
velous rendition of correct tempo. Neither the 
trained musician, with the most acute sense of 
musical discrimination, nor the metronome itself 
can surpass or even equal the roller in keeping 
perfect time; nor could anyone detect the slightest 
variaion of time from the theme once commenced. 
He sings his melody with excellent musical taste; 
some bars fast and others slow, but the tempo is 
always rythmic and regular. Many orchestra lea- 



130 



ders might imitate the roller's method of keeping 
perfect time to great advantage. As an evidence 
of this marvelous time discrimination, the Bell tour 
is herein attempted to be described in music set to 
the human scale: 



Many times when unjustly accused of not 
"singing through", the roller would seem to be 
merely trying the scale or composing his melody, 
by deciding which combinations are more euphoni- 
ous or suitable to produce good harmony. It is 
sometimes his custom, apparently, to slowly run the 
scale up and down, then suddenly start off with 
some perfected tour. 

From such a small throat, he compares favor- 
ably to the violin, in sending forth the wonderful 
volume and variety of melody ; in clearness of tone, 
he is mindful of the flute; in the eloquent feeling 
and the depth of expression, his soul stirring tones, 
in slow time, may be likened to the violoncello. 

As a further proof of time discrimination^ 
wherein the Bell tour may be shown in combination 
with another tour, the Hollowroll, sung in an en- 
tirely different tempo to correspond with the con- 
struction of another song theme, as follows: 



131 



1 -^\rh^i rrrr rrrr? i^/frv'^^ 


iM-. =±-y^L-.: .i^^^-f— 



Another apt illustration of good tempo may 
he ohserved in a rendition of the Pfeifen and Hol- 
lawliell;^then siiddenly descending into the Knar-^ 
row; then ascending into the Glucke; then d^s-' 
sending afeain to the Knarrow: 



i 



.h'^ rfJf 



:2zziz 




CHAPTER XL 

VERMIN 

Every animal is beset by some mortal enemy. 
Parasites in some form, prey throughout the animal 
kingdom. The entire output or foodstuffs in some 
sections, are destroyed by parasites which devour it ; 
these parasites are in turn destroyed by other ani- 
mals. This correlative force of parasites, prey- 
ing in first one form then another, controls and 
regulates at times, the entire animal kingdom ; they 
determine the numbers of species. Even man him- 
self, with his ingenuity and invention, is put to the 
test to destroy the vermin and pests with which he 
is afflicted. Parasites seem to breed faster, require 
less, have more health and less disease than the 
useful kind upon Mother Earth. 

The Condor lays a couple of eggs and the Ostrich 
a score, yet in the same country, the Condor may be 
the more numerous of the two; the Fulmar petrel 
lays but one egg, yet is believed to be the most num- 
erous bird in the world. The law of the survival of 
the fittest controls the destiny of all the animal 
kingdom. Possibly, nature has formulated this 
law to regulate production. Without the economy 



133 



of this destruction, possibly some species would over 
run the earth. Even man is subject to plague, 
epidemics and contagious diseases; scourges and 
wars have kept population within reasonable bounds. 
In spite of the prediction of Malthus, population, so 
far, has not increased faster than subsistence. 

Darwin makes this correlative force of preying 
parasites clear by a very concrete demonstration; 
he shows that the production of honey depends upon 
the environments surrounding the culture of this 
delicacy. He says, mice eat bees; cats eat mice. 
He further explains, that in a country district in 
England, there are many old maids who own cats; 
hence, the more old maids, the more cats ; the more 
cats, the less mice ; the less mice, the more bees ; the 
more bees, the more honey! 

Bird lice are the bane of a roller's existence. 
There are three kinds; one, the red mite, which 
sucks the blood from the body of the bird during 
the night only; then, the small, grey bug and the 
large grey louse, both of which usually infest the 
body of the bird during the day; tlic latter also 
suck the juice from the shafts of the bird's feathers. 
The red mite does not remain constantly upon the 
bird's body; after it's nightly feast, in the early 
morning, it seeks a place of concealment; hence the 
difficulty of exterminating the red mite with insect 
powder or using vermin exterminator in the bath. 



134 



The grey lice usually infest the body of the 
bird ; they are especially annoying by their ravenoiis 
and pernicious activity during the day, making the 
bird exceedingly nervous and restless. If the breeder 
blows up the feathers of the bird, he will see them 
running around the bird's body. These grey lice 
are much worse than the red mites, which leave the 
bird in the day time to settle somewhere in the cage ; 
Avhile the former continually keep moving about 
under the feathers, to the great loss of peace and 
vitality of the bird. 

During the day, the red lice hide and conceal 
themselves in the cuts of the ends of perches ; in the 
dark corners of the cage ; in the small crevices, where 
it is dark and very difficult to see them. These 
places are their favorite hiding spots ; especially, in 
the all wood cages, which make admirable breeding- 
grounds for them. They are very small, minute, 
black bodies, hardly discernable ; at times filled with 
the blood of birds, to the point of bursting. 

The nests are veritable traps for the lice; they 
distribute themselves throughout the xiesting mater- 
ial ; mostly at the bottom ; they accumulate very 
rapidly. At night, both the hen, male and young 
birds are bothered almost beyond endurance. The 
birds get very little rest. In consequence, birds lose 
a large portion of their vitality, through the blood 
sucking hunger of lice; young birds are either de- 



135 



stroyed or become weaklings for the rest of their 
lives, if they survive; because of the incessant at- 
tacks of these pests. Nestlings frequently die simply 
because they are weakened to such an extent, they 
have not the vitality to open their mouths to be fed ; 
hence they gradually starve to death. The blame is 
often placed upon the innocent female for not feed- 
ing her young. 

To ascertain whether birds are troubled with 
lice, minutely examine the cuts on the ends of 
perches; the corners of cages; the wooden crevices 
and cracks, where it is dark. Watch at nightfall 
and early morning to see if the birds scratch them- 
selves frequently; watch the nestlings carefully to 
see if they have that pale, bloodless color around the 
bill, to ascertain if they seem weak and half fed. 
Remove the nestlings to a soft piece of wool or cot- 
ton; shake the nest and nest box over a piece of 
white paper or cloth ; also, try the perches the same 
way. If lice are present, the small, black pests will 
be seen scurrying around on the paper or cloth; 
probably, full of blood. The lice much prefer the 
tender, well fed young birds to the old ones. Their 
attacks soon prove fatal to young birds, unless 
speedily cheeked. 

The best plan, if they are discovered, is to 
make a new clean nest; also change the nest box; 
making both as near like the old nest as possible; 



136 



then, change the nestlings to this new nest. This 
preparation should be made, of course, before re- 
moving the nestlings from the old nest; so that 
there will be as little time lost as possible, in making 
this change. If it is found necessary to change 
the cage, prepare a similar cage in color and con- 
struction to the old one ; placing the new nest in the 
exact same position as the other and change the 
mother and young ones as quickly as possible; taking 
care, to make neither noise nor disturbance. 

At the end of the breeding season, when the 
young birds have been removed to the flying cage, 
the brood hens and males treated likewise, the 
perches, breeding cages and nest boxes, should be 
thoroughly soaked in boiling water, tinged with a 
liberal allowance of black carbolic; it is sometimes 
mixed with kerosene or creosote. All the joints and 
crevices of the breeding cages, should afterwards 
be painted with pure black carbolic; then these 
articles should be placed in the fresh air to dry at 
least two days. The black carbolic will kill all ver- 
min and their eggs. Then rub thoroughly with a 
dry cloth to remove all traces of black carbolic inside 
the cages, as it is a deadly poison. ^ This cleansing 
process should be thoroughly attended to, before 
putting the breeding cages away. 

Placing a white cloth over cages during the 
night is often resorted to as a magnet to attract the 
red vermin. Since they only attack the birds dur- 



137 



ing the night and leave them in the early morning, 
white material seems to act upon vermin as a 
powerful magnet. Vermin will congregate upon 
this white cloth in large numbers ; thereby enabling 
the breeder every morning to destroy those which 
have annoyed the birds during the night, by placing 
this cloth into a solution of kerosene or black car- 
bolic. This process continued for several nights will 
collect vast numbers of these pests and give the 
birds great relief. This experiment with a white 
cloth may be tried in emergencies, when it is im- 
possible to give the cages a thorough cleaning, 
owing to the presence of brood hens which are set- 
ting. 

By actual count, upon information furnished by 
a reliable breeder, 300 red mites were found upon a 
white cloth, which had covered a small cage during 
a single night ! This number decreased steadily 
every morning, in liis count, until it reached the sum 
of only two at the end of the week. The beneficial 
use of the white cloth, may be estimated on the 
theory of the geometrical increase of animals. What 
would proba])ly represent the increase in numbers 
of one pair of red mites, laying and hatching my- 
riads of eggs, during a period of one week? 

Every being on earth, which, during it's natural 
life, produces several eggs or seeds, must suffer 
destruction, at some time, from some cause, other- 
wise, on the principle of geometrical increase, it's 



138 



numbers would quickly become so great, no country- 
could support the product. As more individuals are 
produced than can possibly survive, there must be 
in every case a struggle for existence. 

Charles Darwin clearly illustrates this doctrine 
by the following narrative: "The elephant is reck- 
oned the slowest breeder and I have taken some 
pains to estimate it's probable minimum rate of nat- 
ural increase; it is safest to assume, that it begins 
breeding when thirty years old, and goes on breed- 
ing until ninety years old, bringing forth six young 
in the interval and surviving till one hundred years 
old; if this be so, then after a period of 740 to 750 
years, there would be nearly 19,000,000 elephants"! '* 
If the minimum increase of the elephant, undis- 
turbed by the law of natural selection, would be 
19,000,000, what would be the maximum increase 
of one pair of red mites in one week, unless using 
some method to retard or check their progress? 

Tar rope is often used to cover the bottom 
of nests, as it is a very strong disinfectant and re- 
pugnant to vermin. Insect powder is also used to 
line the bottom of nesting material to keep vermin 
from breeding in the nest; this may be also used 
to sprinkle nesting material. Great caution must 
be taken to prevent the insect powder from naus- 
eating the hen. If it is too strong she will leave 
the nest and probably remain off until the eggs 



139 



are cold. If the nests show evidence of vermin, 
they may be dusted with pyrethrum powder, but 
not the hen; she may be given a bath with infusion 
of quassia water. 

Some breeders use a mixture of lime and salt 
to paint breeding cages. This preparation not only 
prevents vermin but is good for the stomach of the 
bird, when it picks the whitewash and salt from 
the bars of the cage. 

Lard is used by some breeders to rub in joints 
and crevices of cages to prevent lice, since they 
cannot travel or readily move in grease. 

Where it is possible, white washed or painted 
walls are preferable to papered, as paper harbors 
insects; makes good nesting material and is a 
secure hiding place. Bees wax and turpentine 
polish is a good composition to keep vermin from 
nesting in the floor. Placing concentrated infusion 
of quassia in bathing water, when birds are pestered 
with body lice, is a splendid mixture to remove 
them ; one teaspoonful to a half pint of water. 

If it is possible, either before or at the end of 
the breeding season, birds should be removed to a 
safe place and the breeding room should be thor- 
oughly fumigated, by burning sulphur, which not 
only destroys all vermin and eggs, but any dis- 
ease germs with which the place might be infected. 



140 



Mice are a constant nuisance to the breeder. 
They are attracted by bird seed only. With all it's 
other faults, the mouse is not a carnivorous animal ; 
hence it is not the blood of the bird that it seeks. 
The maddening hunger for bird seed causes the 
mouse to forsake all other haunts, to congregate as 
near the breeding room as possible. This small pest 
causes much unconscious damage by tainting the 
food with it's foul excrement, which produces nausea 
to birds and causes deathly sickness and often death. 
The constant visit of mice creates a restless and 
nervous fear, sleepless and restless nights ; which 
necessarily weakens the vitality of the birds. The 
foraging of mice in breeding cages frighten many 
hens from their nests, in consequence of which eggs 
get cold and young'birds die in the shell; hens also 
stop feeding their young when the mouse has dis- 
turbed her nest. 

Care should be observed in using poison to 
prevent this pest, for fear the bird might be de- 
stroyed instead of the vermin. The safest plan to 
stop their annoyance and damage, is to use the small 
steel trap, better known as the "Victor" trafj"). 
Some mice are wary of traps and will not enter 
them; they may he ensnared with the use of a little 
strategy. Enough of the small traps may be set 
to cause the mouse to accidentally run into one of 
these traps while making it's hurried escape. 



141 



Rats have a great appetite for birds; they are 
vicious and crafty and cause great damage where- 
ever they can locate a breeding room. This rodent 
has been known to destroy over twenty ])irds in 
one breeding room in a single night. The tactics 
of the rat are cunning in the extreme ; lirst quietly 
creeping upon it's prey, while it sleeps, near the 
bars of the cage; if then unsuccessful, causing the 
bird extreme terror with a hissing noise ; then 
thrusting it's paws through the bars of the cage to 
seize and devour the bird. The only method which 
meets with practical results is the large steel trap. 

It is advisable when traps or poison fail, to fill 
mice and rat holes with pieces of finely broken glass; 
then close the holes with cement, plaster paris, or 
cover them securely with tin. 



CHAPTER XII. 

MOULTING 

The saddest time in the personal career of a 
roller, is when he moults. It is his annual change 
of dress. Although, this may occur at any time 
from a sudden change of temperature. The first or 
second moult is usually not so distressing; but the 
third time is serious. In the first moult, the roller 
only loses the body feathers; it is very slight; the 
young males continue studying. The most constant 
breeders are deeply affected ; during that period, the 
male can neither mate nor procreate his specie. His 
song becomes feeble and finally hoarse. The other- 
wise vivacious bird disconsolately sits with di'ooping 
and dishevelled feathers. This period may continue 
for six weeks or two months. It depends upon the 
bird's physical condiion, treatment and freedom 
from drafts. This season begins about the month 
of July; but some birds commence in September. 
He usually does not sing until this period has 
passed. This may be determined after the small 
feathers have grown upon his head. The small 
feathers fall from the body of the bird first, then 
the long and tail feathers. These are replaced by 
new ones. 



143 



During the moulting season, birds are very 
sensitive, morose and dejected. They should have 
a quiet, retiring, secluded place ; sunlight should be 
avoided; also drafts of any kind; he must be kept 
from dark or damp places. During this period, 
the bird is more susceptible to colds than at any 
other time ; because of the scarcity of the covering. 
Bathing should be in tepid water, if the room is 
warm, but by no means cold; if the room is warm 
and dry, the bath may assist in discarding the de- 
cayed and dishevelled feathers. 

During this eventful period, the bird should be 
fed upon nourishing and sustaining food; with 
crushed egg shells constantly in his cage; occasion- 
ally, he should have a piece of apple. In this weak- 
ened condition, he necessarily requires stimulating 
food and care ; gravel should also be plentifully sup- 
plied to build up and strengthen the wasted ma- 
terial. As this period grows to a close he begins 
snatches of low, soft tones; as a young bird, un- 
certain, studying his song. Oft times, he may 
return with his melody vastly improved; it may be 
entirely changed; it may be even forgotten. 

The severity and length of his moulting seem 
to dei)end upon the expenditure of energy during 
the breeding season; the constancy of his song, the 
condition of his health ; more particularly, upon the 
amount of cold he has contracted; or the exposure 



144 



to draft ; or the quality of his i'ood. His muult may 
be long or short; light or severe. But without this 
ordeal, his procreating success or melody would be 
eventually quite limited. The moult seems to ac- 
complish a double purpose, physical and spiritual 
metamorphosis; the necessary change of his dilapi- 
dated and dishevelled plumage; the arousing of a 
downliearted and dejected demeanor. It may be 
analogous to the Fall of the year, when plants dis- 
card their season's attire. 

During this period the bird seems to have lost 
all spirit; there is a complete metamorphosis; the 
passing away of all waste material ; a rehabilitation, 
recreation of the old; it is a thorough cleansing of 
his personality, both spiritual and physical. During 
this period, nature accomplishes a double purpose ; 
she cleanses his unkempt attire ; she adds fresh 
strength and vitality; also, she selects that season 
of the year, July and August, when the bird is least 
susceptible to drafts. Her wisdom in this choice of 
season seems premeditated. 

Birds differ considerably in the process of 
moulting. Some moult promptly, with a complete 
set of new feathers in four weeks, while others re- 
quire sometimes, two months; such birds as the 
latter are not healthy; they do not make good 
breeding stock ; neither do they retain good song. 
The quicker and more thoroughly a bird moults, the 
healthier and more satisfactory his moult. 



u: 



There are two kinds of moult ; tlie natural an- 
nual moult and the artificial moult caused by a 
sudden change of temperature. This change may 
be either hot or cold. Some breeders undertake to 
force the moult, by placing the bird in an artificially 
warmed place. But this is not advisable. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

SICKNESS AND DISEASE; 
THEIR PREVENTION AND CURE 

One of the most instructive principles of zoo- 
logy is discerned in the marvelous analogy between 
man and the lower animals. Both are afflicted with 
the same analogous or comparative diseases; may be, 
known and designated under different names, but 
practically showing the same symptoms and diagno- 
sis. They are the same complaints, caused by simil- 
ar conditions. These correlative diseases are cured 
by the same medicines, corresponding tonics, counter- 
irritants and antidotes. The same treatment is usual- 
ly conducive toward effecting and curing, preventing 
and relieving the same maladies. Animals are exactly 
similar, before birth, in foetus form, in physical con- 
struction and formation; they are also similar after 
death and decomposition; they are destroyed by the 
same gasses and parasites. The health and vitality 
of the roller, more so than other animals, is depen- 
dent upon Food and Temperature. Almost the 
whole category of his diseases and sicknesses is 
regulated by these two great factors. 



147 



Food is one of the principal mediums in the for- 
mation of types and species in both plants and ani- 
mals, as to size, color and conformation. Food is 
dependent upon climate, which usually regulates 
both the quality, kind and quantity of diet, to supply 
the necessary chemical ingredients to counteract 
the temperature. In hot climates, rice and cereals 
are essential to obstruct the excessive heat ; in cold 
climates, an abundance of fat is required to heat 
the body to withstand the bitter cold. 

Climatic conditions affect both man and beast in 
a similar manner; this depends upon the habits, re- 
quirements and physical construction. There are 
more suicides, for instance, in London than in Paris, 
because the light, sunny climate of Paris is con- 
ducive to gaiety and amusement; while the heavy, 
foggy weather of London may create a morsoe, de- 
jected and despondent disposition, tending to morbid 
introspection. 

Conditions and environments regulate the 
health, habits and physique of the entire animal king- 
dom. Man lost the use of large teeth, when it was 
no longer necessary to eat raw meat ; in northern 
climates, man, by force of the severe cold, learned 
a nasal twang, by talking with his mouth closed; 
in the south, he produced the flat sound of speech, 
due to speaking with his mouth open. In mild temp- 
erature. 



148 



No animal is affected more than the bird by 
climatic conditions and temperature ; especially, the 
roller. There are certain fundamental indications, 
which will generally determine the exact physical 
condition of the roller. These will be brietly de- 
scribed. 

If your bird appears puffed up and does not 
sing; if his abdomen is red and swollen; if his eyes 
are dull and half closed; if he moves in a sluggish 
manner, witli ruft'led, soiled and dishevelled ap- 
pearance ; if he places his head under his wing in 
a doleful, listless way; sleeps during the day; sitis 
at his food cup in a half-hearted, dejected mood, 
wearily picking at an occasioanl seed — , this bird 
is either temporarily ill, or is not healthy. He needs 
attention. Look into the seed cup; there should 
not be any peeled or half eaten seed. 

A healthy bird looks rugged and slender ; his 
eyes are fully opened and alert. He is shifty in 
action, lively and cheerful; not drooping and down- 
cast; keen, quick and ambitious. He snatches a seed 
with vim and vitality; he is a constant sing.*i'; his 
voice is clear and smooth; he is a steady and con- 
sistent feeder; his figure is tapering; the breast is 
full, plump and fleshy, not fat ; the abdomen is a 
light pink and slightly concave. 

Breeders find certain fixed and reliable prin- 
ciples from careful and watchful experience in the 
treatment of bird diseases. These maxims and data 



149 



should be observed and studied with zealous cau- 
tion ; not only as information, but a preventive to 
sickness and disease. They are as follows : 

FIRST : The origin of the principal deseases 
and sicknesses may be traced to attacks upon a 
roller's two main vital organs — , the Stomach and 
Lungs. As a rule, his entire physical trouble is 
usually due, except in cases of inheritance, either to 
a weakness of the abdominal or pulmonary systems. 

SECOND: These diseases and complaints are 
usually caused by poor, damp, musty or improper 
food, filthy or impure water or undue exposure to 
draughts or cold. 

THIRD : Weak and defective birds, when 
bred, usually transmit their physical ailments, more 
readily than any other animal. 

FOURTH: There are certain incura])le disea- 
ses, which may ])e temporarily relieved, but not per- 
manently cured. 

FIFTH: "An ounce of prevention", in ])reed- 
ing birds, ' ' is worth a pound of cure ' ' ; applies with 
double force in roller breeding; since it is far easier 
to keep a bird healthy than to cure one. 

SIXTH: To determine a bird's exact physical 
status, two conditions must be accurately ascer- 
tained. First ; his stomach should be in health, light 



150 



pink, but not red. Second; his stool should be 
white and dark; the lower part white; the upper 
r>art dark ; it should fall coneshaped. 

SEVENTH: Sick birds should always be se- 
gregated and placed in a separate cage, not only 
to avoid contagion, but to give the patient more 
comfort, quiet, peace, and convenience for treatment. 

EIGHTH: As a rule, all medicines should be 
dissolved in water unless another liquid is advised. 

NINTH: When giving medicine, ordinarily, 
in consideration of the constitution and vitality of 
a bird, one drop of medicine should be sufficient, to 
a teaspoonful of water, placed in a separate drink- 
ing dish. 

Slight complaints produced by minor causes, 
might be quickly cured, if taken in time by some 
simple remedy; but if neglected, may develop into 
some incurable malady; until it seriously threatens 
the bird's vitality. These complaints and disease;-; 
may be prevented, unless hereditary, by the use of 
proper food and placing the bird in a warm posi- 
tion. Some birds require more heat than others: 
some birds being more rugged and hardier in temp- 
erament, can endure more exposure. 

The complaints subject to the condition of the 
abdominal tract, either due to improper food or in- 



151 



heritance are iCONSTIPATION, COSTIVENESS, IN- 
DIGESTION, DIARRHEA, INFLAMATION OF 
THE BOWELS, LIME STOOL, FATTY DEGEN- 
ERATION, YELLOW JAUNDICE, DISEASES OF 
THE GLANDS, GOUT, DROPSY, WIND SWELL- 
ING, SCEPTIC FEVER AND DISEASE OF THE 
LIVER. 

Constipation: This complaint is quite oiften the 
foundation of many diseases. The principal causes 
are indigestion and fatty degeneration. The symp- 
toms are frequent straining when evacuations 
occur ; the excrement is hard and kernel shaped ; 
there is the rapid whipping with the tail of the back 
part of the body; the feathers are liable to be un- 
kempt and dishevelled ; there is a general depression 
of mein and loss of appetite. To stop this complaint, 
feed for several days upon oatmeal, without any 
other seed or give two or three drops of castor-oil, 
with oatmeal gruel, once or twice daily; another 
method is to feed grated, fresh carrots, seasoned 
with a small pinch of pulverized sugar. 

Green food, sweet apple and crushed oats usu- 
ally overcome this complaint. In very severe cases, 
when this trouble is continued, put two drops of 
glycerine in a teaspoonful of warm, soapy water 
and give an injection of about ten drops; if neces- 
sary, another may be given in half an hour ; two or 
three drops of castor oil may be also given into the 



152 



mouth with a medicine dropper. Some breeders 
use aconite, hepar sulphur and spongia to stop this 
complaint. Two corns of nux vomica will also stop 
this trouble ; also white bread soaked in milk. 
Costiveness: This complaint may be cured with a 
piece of sweet apple, lettuce or spinach salad. This 
trouble may be permanently avoided by feeding 
crushed oats occasionally. 

Indigestion- This is one of the principal complaints 
from which a bird suffers. The symptoms may be 
observed in his failing appetite, very light stool, 
hard brown in color, general apathy and laziness. 
This trouble is usually caused by unfit and spoiled 
food. In this condition the bird should be fed very 
light food. 

By mixing a few crushed oats with a bird's 
daily food, this condition may be prevented alto- 
getlier; it may also be advisable to place a small 
portion of red pepper in his food ; also a little salt 
in warm drinking water or two or three drops of 
red wine might be given in his drinking cup. Egg 
shells, green food, fresh sand and cuttle bone are 
useful aids to digestion. 

Diarrhea: In older birds, this is usually caused 
by colds or poor or spoiled food; also stale drinking 
water. Either cure the cold or change the food 
and water. The symptoms are : A long, thin, green 
or jelly-like discharge with air bubbles; sometimes, 



153 



the excrement is white or yellowish; the feathers 
near the vent gum together; the rectum is swollen 
and often protrudes from severe straining. The 
speediest cure, is to remove all green food; place 
the bird in a warm room; feed poppy seed. One 
drop of the tincture of opium should be put into the 
drinking cup or place a rusty nail in the drinking 
water. 

It is noticeable that, while suffering from this 
complaint, the bird rapidly whips his tail feathers; 
quite often, blood is mixed with the evacuations. 
Another remedy is to give two or three drops of 
castor oil, with oatmeal gruel; also, a thin, watery 
rhubarb tincture may be given, one to three drops 
daily in drinking water. A portion of ground 
nutmeg may be mixed with food. Bryonia and red 
wine are also helpful. 

The soiled feathers during this complaint, must 
be washed with warm, soapy water; then thorough- 
ly dried with a soft cloth; then apply a lotion of 
vaseline. 

This complaint is very weakening and frequent- 
ly arises from inflamation of the mucous membranes 
of the intestines. A good remedy is to use from 
two to three grains of dover powder to an ounce of 
gum water; substituted for the drinking water; two 
drops of castor oil given internally, is a good 
remedy, on the point of a knitting enedle; the 



154 



needle should be warmed before putting it into tlie 
oil. If the bowels appear inflamed, alternate tbe 
former treatment, with water containing- twenty 
drops of antimonial wine to each fluid ounce. If 
caused by indigestible food, use tablespoonful of car- 
bonate of soda to three ounces of cinnamon water 
and give in place of ordinary water; castor oil 
should be used with either of these remedies. Five 
drops of elixir of vitriol in drinking water is very 
beneficial in curing this complaint or place a small 
piece of common chalk between the bars of the cage. 
But if this trouble continues, put from two to four 
drops of paragoric in drinking water; then place 
the bird in a real warm place. 

Iniflamation of Bowels: This complaint is usually 
caused by colds. Ice cold or stale drinking water, 
sour, spoiled or too rich food may also cause this 
ailment. It may also be due to the feeding of unripe 
seed or the use of wet green food. The symptoms 
of this malady might be observed, in the bending of 
the abdomen, the speedy whipping of the tail at 
times of evacuation. It may be further seen in the 
swollen and inflamed stomach. The sufferer seems 
languid ; rests his body upon the perch ; fails to sing. 
During this period of sickness, the breast bone 
is noticeably extended, the evacuations are greenish 
black, instead of white and black; they also Iiav*; 
a strong, nasty odor. A bird in this condition, suf- 
fers from loss of appetite, while his crop seems full ; 



lie is also affected with great thirst. Thi:^ sickness 
is contagious. It may be carried to other birds, by 
the watery evacuations coming in contact with the 
food ; it quite often becomes epidemic. 

To meet this problem with proper caution, each 
bird afflicted should be segregated in a separate 
cage. The patient should be placed in an even temp- 
erate, warm room, between 72 and 75 degrees ; all soft 
food and soaked seed should be stopped. It mast 
not be fed any green food or fruit. Every day, the 
patient should be given one drop of the tincture of 
opium, or a few drops of red wine in the drinking 
cup; feed poppy seed and oatmeal mixed in equal 
parts; anise seed is also beneficial. Rice water and 
burnt magnesia, mixed with water to a thin paste, 
given internally, will produce good results. In most 
cases, unless speedily helped, the bird is lost. As 
soon as the bird is convalescent, give ten drops of 
gentian in drjnking water, fresh daily, as a tonic, 
for a week ; also castor oil and boiled carrots. 

During this complaint, the cage should be kept 
thoroughly clean. The inflamed abdomen may be 
painted with warm turpentine, with a camel's hair 
brush ; light biscuit soaked in milk may be given 
every few hours; a few drops of gum arable may 
also be added to the drinking water; if the bird is 
especially weak, a few drops of brandy may be 
given. 



156 



Lime Stool: The causes of this malady are certain 
microbes and bacteria, probably due to the excess- 
ive use of egg shells and lime material. The symp- 
toms are : excessive evacuations of a thin, white, yel- 
low phlegm which turns green and considerably 
soils the abdomen. While suffering from this com- 
plaint, there is usually a failing appetite. The bird 
sits aimlessly about, with drooping feathers; some- 
times, it throws up a thin, greenish substance; the 
sufferer is very thirsty, quite often shivering. At 
times, the feathers are ruffled up and stand on end; 
the victim also suffers with vertigo and. deadly, 
cramps. 

To affect a cure, the breeder must separate each 
bird afflicted with this malady. Carefully disin- 
fect the cage with chloride water and use every 
effort to obtain absolute cleanliness. Give a solu- 
tion of sulphuric manganate of iron, one to two drops 
daily in drinking water, to five hundred parts of 
water, for about fourteen days, for those birds not 
yet afflicted. For sick birds, which have already 
succumbed to the disease, mix sulphuric manganate 
of iron, with one to five hundred parts of water, 
from three to four times a day. Sometimes pow- 
dered rhubarb and sugar grated in with the food 
,is very helpful. But as a rule, birds aft'licted with 
this malady are seldom saved. 
Fatty Degeneration: This condition is due to over 
eating and too much rich food. It may be ascer- 



157 



tained by the labored breathing; the peculiar noise 
made when breathing. The evacuation seems to 
cause pain; it is hard or thick in composition. On 
closer inspection, the belly is very full and seems 
to be cushioned with layers of fat. The skin ap- 
pears dead in appearance ; there is a loss of feathers 
in spots. 

To treat this malady, scant food should be 
given; the bird should be fed a great deal of green 
food; one to two drops of castor oil should be given 
daily. The sufferer should be given a large cage 
and a bath often. It is advisable, to feed nothing 
but oatmeal for a period of from eight to fourteen 
days. 

Yellow Jaundice: It is difficult to detect this com- 
plaint. It usually follows catarrh of the rectum; 
the passage becomes clogged; which affects the gall 
and causes it to enter the blood, thereby causing 
yellow jaundice. 

To cure this disease, the bird should be given 
a quantity of glycerine in water, once or twice daily, 
to loosen the bowels; also, a solution of calomel 
root, one to one hundred parts water, from two to 
three times daily. The bird should be fed light 
sparing food, with sufficient green food. 

Disease of the Glands: This disease keeps the 
necessary fat from the feather glands. Usually, the 
glands are overfull with fat. In the diseased con- 



158 



dition, this substance hardens or turns to matter, 
so that it forms a hard lump, often miscalled "the 
pip"; which some people attempt to cure by lancing; 
then squeezing this substance out. This operation 
really endangers the life of the bird. 

To affect a cure, examine the bird carefully, to sec 
if the gland is merely hard and fat or if it really 
contains matter. In the former case, anoint the 
spot with warm olive oil, two or thTeo times fUnly. 
At the same time, feed plenty of green food; bathe 
with luke warm water. Where matter is found, 
make a careful incision and syringe it out with a 
solution of boric acid, of from one to ^x^-^ hundred 
parts of water. 

Gout: This disease is accompanied by loss of ap- 
petite, fever, swelling of joints, wings and feet. In 
the beginning, the joints will appear stiff, red and 
feverish; they are usually very painful. The sM-ell- 
ing will then become soft and filled with matfvM* and 
blood. Then it turns hard again to a gaily end 
cheese-like substance. Most cases after a few weeks 
will heal themselves. Hoverer, the joints usually 
remain enlarged. 

In other cases, slow emaciation takes place ; the 
bird becomes anemic. During this malady, the 
stool becomes very thick and heavy; death usually 
results from constipation. To give relief, the bird 
must be removed to a warm, dry place. If the swell- 



159 



ings appear feverish, cool hy bathing with lead 
water, arnica water or .vinegar water. If the swell- 
ings are hard, bathe with spirits of camphor or 
spirits of ants; also bandage with warm woolen 
cloths. If matter has collected, lance it, but be 
careful not to do this too early; then gently press 
out the matter and wash with carbolic acid solu- 
tion, one to two hundred parts. Give inwardly in 
either case, salicylic acid solution, one to five hun- 
dred parts. 

Dropsy: The cause of this serious malady is due 
to colds and inflamation of the lower stomach ; also, 
it follows other sicknesses, such as tuberculosis of 
the intestines. The symptoms are usually notice- 
able in the beginning by labored breathing; then 
the abdomen swells. In more flagrant cases, a fluid 
is plainly seen in swollen parts. This complaint is 
incurable. 

Windswelling' : This is a very serious and dangerous 
complaint; unless quickly discovered and speedily 
suppressed. It appears as a flat, white blister; it 
happens mostly in cages of nestlings; it begins 
usually with indigestion; arising from the use of 
either too rich or spoilt food. In light cases, it may 
be curable by lameing the swelling and gentl}^ 
pressing the affected part until the air has escaped ; 
then anoint this spot with warm oil. Tn cases of 
nestlings, wrap them in soft, loose cotton ; scant food 
should be given^ 



160 



Sceptic Fever: This is caused by excessive use of 
egg food; old birds, weak from breeding and in- 
digestion. To cure this complaint, take one tea- 
spoonful of fluid of magnesia, six drops of lemon 
juice to each ounce of drinking water, until bowels 
move freely; then for two or three days no seed 
should be given; but bread soaked in milk and 
squeezed out dry as possible, with one small tea- 
spoonful of canary seed daily ; no green food should 
be given. 

Disease of the Liver: This complaint comes from 
decayed and soiled food ; from too many birds in one 
cage or in one room. This disease may be discerned 
by these so called liver spots upon the body, loss 
of appetite and fading of color. If the spots are 
small, the belly will not appear bloated and the 
bird may still sing. Under these circumstances, 
there is no cause for alarm. To meet this emer- 
gency, dry food only should be fed. Birds with 
this ailment should not be put in a heck, as their 
young ones will be sickly. 

If a large, violet, brown spot is noticed under 
the breast bone and the color spreads over the 
belly, especially, over the right side, in this case, in- 
flamation has set in and a swelling will appear. It is 
hardly possible to save such a bird. To render the ut- 
most relief, it should be kept in a warm room ; fed on 
poppy and linseed, with very little rape seed. The 



161 



offspring from such birds, are sick while still in 
the shell and therefore seldom manage to survive 
birth. From diseases of the liver, both young and 
old birds can contract, and are susceptible to in- 
flamation of the bowels and stomach. 

Cramps: This complaint comes from a filthy cage 
or close confinement in too small a cage. Give the 
patient a larger cage; do not let the bird bathe 
more than once a week; immerse the legs in warm 
water ; place two drops of laudanum in the drinking 
water. 

Catarrh of the Stomach: Place a small quantity of 
aconite or Pulsatilla, from one to two corns in the 
drinking water; also, cooked oatmeal and grated 
carrot is very helpful. 

If the bird seems puffed up unnaturally, he 
probably has fever. Dissolve two corns of aconite 
in his drinking water daily; not too cold. If the 
stomach appears black at any time, it may be due 
to the eating of some spoiled or poisonous sub- 
stance formed by the decay of salad food and the 
metal of the cage. For swollen or black stomach, 
give two drops of castor oil to swallow, by holding 
the bird's bill open, between thumb and forefinger 
and dropping the oil from a medicine dropper into 
his mouth ; better results may be obtained by warm- 
ing the oil slightly; this should speedily remove the 
cause of the trouble. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

COMPLAINTS CAUSED BY DRAUGHTS, 
COLDS AND EXPOSURE. 

• In this chapter, it is undertaken to classify and 
treat those complaints due to the attack upon the 
pulmonary tracts of the roller; caused by careless 
exposure to draughts, and the use of ice cold drink- 
ing water. These complaints are: HOARSENESS, 
COLDS, CATARRH, BRONCHITIS, ASTHMA, 
CONSU]\IPTION, RHEUMATISM, PNEUIMONTA, 
INFLAMATION OF THE LUNGS. 

Most of these complaints, with the exception 
of those inherited, may be successfully and easily 
stopped in their incipiency. These maladies gene- 
rally trace their origin to neglected colds; which 
in due time, unattended, result in asthma, bronchitis 
or consumption. 

Loss of voice or hoarseness are caused by 
either over feeding, over singing, moulting or a 
cold. If due to a cold, the bird must be kept in 
a warm place; remove water and give instead, for 
a day or two, boiled Camilla tea or pure rock candy, 
dissolved in water or a few drops of the juice of 



163 



lioarhound dissolved in the drinking water. Pure 
honey, or honey and Camilla tea mixed, will affect 
a speedy cure. Red pepper mixed with egg food 
or bacon rind, sprinkled with red pepper or raw 
fat, salt pork, soaked to remove surplus salt, will 
accomplish the same result. 

V- If the complaint is purely hoarseness, bella- 
donna or aconite will accomplish the same purpose; 
the bird should be kept free from all draughts; if 
the room is chilly, cover the cage at night. 

Often, the best and sweetest singers become 
hoarse from oversinging when they strain them- 
selves. If his silence is due to oversinging, either, 
darken the room or his cage. Raw egg, with rock 
candy, ground barley and malt sugar dissolved in 
drinking water or mixed in egg food, will remedy 
this condition. If his silence is due to fatness or 
overfeeding, the egg food should be immediately 
removed ; place the bird on a diet of rape seed only ; 
also green food may be given ; this treatment should 
be continued for several weeks. 
Catarrh or Cold in the Head: This condition is 
caused by draughts, ice cold drinking water, sudden 
changes in temperature or cold. The symptoms are 
sneezing, yellowish discharge from the nostrils, 
which settles and crusts; continual shaking of the 
head and throwing up phlegm. The first aid for 
this condition, is to remove the bird to a warm, dry 
room ; then clean the nostrils and bill with a feather 



164 



dipped into salt water; then paint or anoint the 
nostrils and bill with almond oil. In all cases in 
which a cold is the fundamental cause, honey mixed 
with Camilla tea is always beneficial ; also use salt 
pork or bacon rind sprinkled with red pepper. 

Bronchitis: While suffering from this complaint, 
the bird is feverish and restless ; he frequently quen- 
ches an almost insurmountable thirst at the drinking 
cup; he has a dry husky cough; has difficulty in 
breathing; which is accompanied with a rattling 
noise from the throat. This malady comes from 
a cold. The patient should be kept in a very warm 
place. 

To relieve or cure this trouble, fill a large 
])asin about three quarters full of hot water; place 
it across two pieces of wood; stand the cage on 
these sticks and cover with a piece of flannel. The 
object of this procedure is to give the sufferer a 
steam bath. • If it is a serious case, add to water 
about ten drops of carbolic acid and twenty-five 
drops of turpentine; but with this solution, cover 
with calico or muslin, instead of flannel. This 
operation should last from twenty to thirty min- 
utes ; this should be repeated twice daily for three 
or four days. 

Internally, a good remedy is to boil two table- 
spoonfuls of linseed in a teacupful of water; strain 
the juice through a piece of muslin; add to this two 
dr. of best Spanish juice, one dr. of gum arabic 



165 



crushed to powder and dissolved in warm water, two 
dr. of glycerine and one dessertspoonful of honey ; 
then place a teaspoonful of this mixture to three 
tablespoonfuls of water and give it fresh every 
morning. 

Honey, rock candy, hoarhound, pure licorice 
juice and salamoniac are very heTpful given in 
small portions. The inhaling of tar vapor, admin- 
istered as a steam bath, is also beneficial. If the 
bird is in a severe condition, while suffering from 
this malady, the mouth may be swabbed out, with 
a solution of salicylic acid, one to five hundred 
parts of water, with a small brush. 

The bird will be relieved speedily if kept in 
a warm room, with a temperature of from 72 to 
76 degrees. If the room is too dry, an atomizer 
should be used, containing warm water to spray 
the cage, since artificial heating oftimes removes too 
much oxygen from the air. 

Asthma: This is one of the most constant diseases, 
with which a breeder must contend. When the 
bird is annoyed by a short whistling sound, breath- 
ing hard, with bill open, his breath hot, melancholy, 
with no relish for food, noticeable fever, painful 
cough, expectoration of yellow phlegm; sometimes 
streaked with blood, or if the breathing is heavy 
and quick, similar to that of an athelete, after a 
strenuous effort^ making a smacking sound, usually 



166 



heard at night, he is afflicted with asthma. There 
is no reliable cure for this complaint; but it may 
be temporarily relieved. It may be harmless, un- 
less accompanied b}^ the smacking sound; then the 
case is incurable ; even if he sings occasionally and 
is lively. The cause of this complaint is. principal- 
ly due, unless inherited, to the bird being placed 
in some exposed position. 

This disease may be further observed by the 
shortness of breath exhibited after a little excite- 
ment or chase of any kind; or by the peculiar 
grating noise made with his bill when the weather 
is thick or the temperature heavy. Honey mixed 
with Camilla tea or raw, fat salt pork, sprinkled 
with red pepper is the most helpful remedy; also, 
warm bread and milk may be given every morning. 

The bowels should be opened with a mild 
purgative, if the bird is constipated; if in a weak- 
ened condition, a few drops of brandy may be given 
in the drinking water. Where catarrhal conditions 
are observed with the above symptoms, the same 
remedy must be used as for bronchitis. Sponge 
cake soaked in sherry wine is also helpful or a few 
drops of gum arable may be added to the drinking 
water. 

The following is a good recipe for asthma: 
Take a hard boiled egg and powdered biscuit in 
equal portions; one half teaspoonful to each bird; 
mixing in three drops of cod liver oil and three 



1(J7 



drops of olive oil. The drinking water may be 
prepared by adding four drops of elixir of vitriol 
and three drops of tincture of capsicum. 

Another good prescription for Asthum is the 
following : Ten drops of antimonial wine, ten drops of 
tincture of henl)ane, add to this one ounce of water; 
also, a good remedy is one dr. of tincture of aconite, 
one dr. of tincture of belladonna, add to this two 
dr. spirits of ether nitrogen; mix this tlioroughly 
and give ten drops to each fluid ounce of drinking 
water; this should be renewed every alternate day. 

Consumption: The cause of this complaint, like 
those originating in the pulmonarfy tract, com- 
mences with a cold. The symptoms in the worst 
stages are the bird's debilitated and emaciated 
condition; his song will be very weak; whatever 
food he eats, seems to produce no strength ; ex- 
pectoration of a yellow phlegm ; sometimes, streaked 
with blood. Of course, in such a condition, he 
could never be placed in the heck. The voice of 
a roller, w^hen afflicted with this malady will be- 
come thin before it turns hoarse; this usually hap- 
pens early in the morning and late in the afternoon ; 
the strength of his body seems to gradually waste 
away. Of course, there is no cure for this disease; 
but his life may be prolonged. This may- be ac- 
complished by nourishing food; using a mixtuiro 
of hard boiled egg and zweibach ; brown rock candy 
.dissolved in water; honey mixed with Camilla tea 



168 



will keep him alive some months longer. Aconite, 
hepar sulphur and spongia are exceedingly helpful. 

Rheumatism: This is probably the most painful 
condition the bird is heir to ; especially, when there 
is lameness without joint swelling. This malady 
comes from colds and drafts; also damp cages and 
perches. It may be cured by anointing the afflic- 
ted parts with warm oil and wrapping the same 
with woolen bandages. Such a bird must be kept 
in a warm room. Salicylic acid solution is very 
beneficial. 

The swelling and infiamation of the eyelid and 
eyeball are usually caused by colds. This com- 
plaint may be observed by tears in the eyes, swell- 
ing of the lids; also the bird is shy of light. The 
affected parts should be painted with a luke warm 
solution of chloride, one to five hundred parts of 
water or alum one to five hundred parts or a 
solution of zinc ointment one to six hundred parts. 
Furthermore, the infiamation of the eye skin can 
come from knocks or bites on the eye. It is a 
soothing relief to bathe this with water and paint 
with a solution of potash and opium; potash 1%, 
water 200%, opium 1%. 

Pneumonia: Pneumonia may be detected in the 
rough and crumpled up condition of the feathers; 
the difficulty in breathing; the dry, husky cough; 
the soreness of the throat. 



169 



To meet this condition the bird ^ould be 
placed in a very warm position. Take one gram 
quinine, dissolved in a few drops of elixir of vitriol, 
mixed with one ounce of pure water ; then add one 
teaspoonful of this mixture to an ounce of drinking 
water. Another good prescription is the following: 
Vin., ant., tart., one dr. ; spirits of ether nitrogen, 
one and one half dr.; tincture opii camphor, one 
dr. ; tincture of belladonna, one half dr. ; add fif- 
teen drops of this mixture to every ounce of water 
in place of drinking water. 

Inflamation of the Lungs: This malady may be 
cured if taken in time ; when the symptoms first 
develop. But when it becomes chronic, there is 
no hope for recovery. Unless checked or treated, 
it may quickly lead to dilation of bronchi. Asthma, 
consumption, apoplexy or dropsy of the chest. The 
following is a very good prescription: Ten drops 
of ethereal tincture of lobelia ; one dr. of compound 
tincture of camphor; three dr. syrup of ginger; one 
ounce of cinnamon water ; two tablespoonfuls of this 
mixture to two ounces of water, given in place of 
ordinary drinking water. Continue this treatment 
until the most distressing symptoms have subsided; 
then reduce to one half; then increase, whenever 
breathing becomes difficult to the patient. The 
bowels must be carefully watched, during this ail- 
ment and a gen^e purgative given if neccessary. 



CHAPTER XV. 
RARE DISEASES. 

This chapter will consist of those rarer di- 
seases, the origin and causes of which little is known. 

Sometimes, a bird is afflicted with a malady 
known as ''throat worm." This is a very rare com- 
plaint; it is very closely allied to the small worm 
known as Trichina, which in it's larval stage, some- 
times infests the muscles of man, swine, and other 
animals. The symptoms of this complaint are shak- 
ing of the head, shortness of breath, gasping for air 
and expectoration. When in this condition, the 
mucous discharge from the throat is very dangerous 
for other birds, as it contains eggs of the worm. 
This parasite is similar to a small leecn, round in 
form, pointed toward the end; reddish in color; the 
length of the male throat worm, is from four to five 
millimetres, but the length of the female worm, is 
from twelve to thirteen millimetres. ]\[icroscopic 
examinations must eventually develop more minute 
information. 

This ^orm settles in the throat or bronchial 
tubes, causing swelling; thick mucous finally chokes 
the bird to death. When the symptoms of this 



171 



malady appear, thoroiig'lily clean and brush the 
cage with some strong- antiseptic solution; also, 
clean the food and water cui)s thoroughly; give 
plenty of fresh air. 

Although, as a rule hopeless, swabbing out of 
the throat with pure tui'pentine. inhaling the vapor 
of creosote, by taking one part of creosote to fiA^e 
hundred parts of water, heating an iron red hot and 
sticking it into this solution which creates a vapoi*. 
rind holding the bird over it to inhale, will T^ender 
substantial relief. From time to time, a few drops 
of linseed oil may be also given to a bird suffering 
from this disease. 

Small Pox: If this disease breaks out in the heck, 
usually, fvery bird is lost. It begins with little 
blotches or pimples, appearing on the head and both 
sides of breast and ])e]ly. Within a few days, all 
the birds usually die. There is no use mentioning 
a cure. Only one thing can be done to retard or 
sto[) it, that is to segregate it as much as possible. 
The breeder should be careful in handling other 
birds; because of the violent contagion. The suf- 
fering of the afflicted might be speedily and 
mercifully alleviated with the inhalation of gas. 
Paralytic strokes; Apoplexy: These complaints are 
caused by too much excitement, sudden scare, fear, 
great heat, too much hemp seed and hot weather; 
they are also due to too strong a blood pressure 



172 



and over eating. These ailments may be observed 
by that peculiar manner of holding the head side- 
ways, rolling the eyes; dizziness, going backwards; 
that turning, twisting motion in a circle. These 
symptoms are usually followed by quick death ac- 
companied by cramps ; they are the products of 
shattered nerves. 

To relieve such a condition as much as possible, 
scant food should be given. Plenty of green food 
should be used and salicylic acid should be placed 
into the water cup ; one drop is sufficient. Placing 
cold water on the head is a great relief; also, a 
mild shower and placing of a wet sponge upon the 
neck and head; fdi- the bowels, castor oil should 
be given. If this attack should be violent, to re- 
store the bird, dilute a quantity of water with a 
portion of ammonia or hartshorn, saturate a sponge 
or -cloth with this solution and lot the bird inhale it. 

Epileptic Fits: While suffering from this cruel 
malady, the bird suddenly collapses with violent 
convulsions, beating the wings rapidly; there is a 
twisting and turning motion; it sways the head 
from side to side; it shivers and the eyes dilate; this 
condition is due to the same causes as those above. 
It is also produced by using too small a cage ; where 
the oven or the room is too warm or sun heat is too 
great or unsatisfied sexual desires. 



173 



To relieve this malady, feed sai)ie as above; 
there should be a change of food; much green food 
and fruit should be given; there should be cool, 
fresh air, a change of location of the bird. At 
iirst sign of stroke, take bird in hand and hold him 
upright, so he will not hurt himself but have relief. 

The old barbarian cure, such as cutting off 
the toe or the outletting of blood is neither sensible 
nor beneficial. It belongs to the same school with 
cupping a human being for appendicitis, when it 
was called intlamation of the bowels. Usually' the 
bird which is liighly nervous and hysterical, chirp- 
ing loudly when fed, is the most subject to Epileptic 
Fits. If a bird has only one attack, it is not neces- 
sary to take it seriously. But if the attack repeats 
itself, then try to find the cause, and cure the same. 

Vertigo is usually caused by confinement in 
too small a cage; from the constant turning which 
the cage necessitates or from knocking against some 
sharp edge and injuring the skull. It may also 
come from a small insect, which bores itself into 
the brain. There are the symptoms usually observ- 
ed in birds of nervous trouble, of holding their 
heads on the side, bending over backwards, turning 
in circles, dizziness and severe cramps. It is only 
possible to cure a bird attacked with this malady 
when the first symptoms are observed. To give him 
relief, place the bird in a roomy, four cornered cage. 



174 



[^ these symptoms then continue ufter treatment, 
the bird is incurable. 

There are many complaints in the oirtl family, 
which are contagious and even epidemic, with simi- 
lar symptoms, that have been classified under dif- 
ferent names. These diseases have caused no end 
of discussion and controversy, universally, among- 
breeders, as to the origin, causes and pr()i)er reme- 
dies. Such disagreements have always existed even 
among the medical fraternity, in the diagnosis and 
treatments of vital diseases affecting the human 
family. 

There is small wonder then, that in the bird 
industry, where facilities for discussion, analysis 
and communication through clinics, journals and 
uiagazines, have been impossible, that breeders in 
various parts of the world, should fail to agree on 
either classifications or treatments of diseases. How- 
ever, where diagnosis and symptoms are exactly 
similar, it is of small concern, what the nomenclat- 
ure of disease may be, so long as the remedy is 
helpful and correct. 

This overheated argument, while disputants are 
discussing the same malady, under dift'erent names, 
reminds one of the dog which held a bone in it^s 
mouth, lost it by attempting to snatch the shadow 
it saw in the water. In other words, in the langu- 
age of the immortal Shakespeare, "A rose by any 



175 



other name would smell as sweet". Why let the 
patient die, while the doctors are splitting hairs 
over the abstract distinction between "tweedledom 
and tweedledee"? 

There are several kinds of tuberculosis, that 
of the liver, heart, kidneys, stomach, intestines and 
egg bag. When any one of these organs is so af- 
fected, the malady is incurable. The life of the 
bird under such conditions, may be indefinitely pro- 
longed by feeding nourishing food; but it is abso- 
lutely useless for the heck ; it may be also useless 
for song; which will be determined by the nature 
and severity of the sickness. 

Diphtheria: This is truly a very rare disease, but 
extremely contagious. It severely affects the head 
and throat. The mucous membranes of the throat 
become thickly coated with secreted matter; the 
throat and tongue become ulcerated. This disease 
is almost incurable unless taken in time. Unless 
the bird or birds afflicted with this malady are very 
valuable, they should be destroyed to stamp out 
the malady; then the doors of the breeding room. 
after the healthy birds have been removed, should 
be tightly closed, and sulphur should be burned to 
fumigate the place and remove all germs. Of course 
all cages should be washed with the strongest dis- 
mfectant and the walls and floors treated in like 
manner. 



176 



The very most that could be done to assuage 
the ravages of this deadly disease is to use a lotion 
for the throat. That consists of two dr. of cupri. 
sulphur dissolved in four ounces of rain water and 
apply to the throat with a feather ; turning it 
around gently a few times. If an effort is made to 
save any of the diseased birds, they should be 
speedily segregated from the room as far away as 
possible from the other birds. The breeder should 
use every precaution himself to prevent carrying 
the germs to other birds, by carefully cleansing his 
hands and all implements used in treating the dis- 
eased birds. 

Scarlet Fever: This awful malady commences with 
cold shiverings; then loss of appetite; the tongue is 
very rough and coated with a slimy mucous of yel- 
low fur; at first, slightly red, with raised popillae. 
Finally, the throat becomes swollen and inflamed; 
there is a dry cough. The body then assumes a red 
appearance. 

The very first aid in this case, is to attend to 
the bowels; they should be thoroughly cleansed of 
all fetid matter. To do this properly, put an ounce 
of Epsom Salt and a piece of Spanish juice, the size 
of a Spanish nut in a pint of warm water; when 
cold give this solution instead of drinking water 
for twelve hours; then give half the quantity filled 
up with water and add twenty drops of sweet nitre 



177 



and twenty drops of aiitiiiionial wine to eacli ounce 
of the former mixture ; give fresh every morning 
until the fever has subsided. If the throat has 
swollen, give gargle with twenty drops of muriatic 
acid to one and one half ounces water and to this 
add thirty drops of tincture of myrrh; open bird's 
mouth gently, dip a small feather in this gargle and 
carefully swab out the throat. The diet should 
consist of white bread, soaked in warm milk, and 
sponge cake soaked in sherry wine, and squeezed 
dry as possible. After the sixth day, if patient is 
recovering, add to the drinking water, in place of 
antimonial wine and nitre, thirty drops of tincture 
of gentian, fifteen drops of diluted sulphuric acid 
and a small quantity of best gum arable. 
Typhoid Fever: This malady was formerly known 
as the ''Bird Plague" and the "Bird Cholera". It 
usually happens just before the moult. At this 
critical time, in a bird's life, there is a great de- 
mand on the serum of blood. If there is not suf- 
ficient health and vitality to meet this demand and 
replenish the loss, stagnation of blood ferment fol- 
lows, which creates a bacillus, the origin of typhus. 
There is great difficulty in getting rid of excretory 
matter ; this lodges in the region of the vent ; which 
may be seen upon examination. 

To meet this condition, a purgative should be 
given to relieve the bowels. These birds should be 
speedily removed from the room and segregated as 



178 



far away as possible from the other birds. This com- 
{)]aint, like Scarlet Fever, is not only of a contagi- 
ous, but of an epidemic character. The following 
remedy is known as the very best prescription: 
Take one dr. of tincture of belladonna ; vin. ipecac, 
two dr. ; one dr. tincture of aconite ; one dr. tinc- 
ure of hyoscyami ; three dr. spirits of ether nit. ; 
one half ounce gentian; then add twenty drops of 
this mixture to each ounce of the ordinary drink- 
ing water and twenty drops of the compound infu- 
sion of senna. After the fever has exhausted itself, 
«:entle tonics and egg food should be given. Such 
tonics as gentian, camomile and chinchona bark, 
made into weak infusions, should be used. If this 
malady should occur during the summer, a small 
leaf of fresh young dandelion, well washed and 
dried, will help rebuild the wasted tissues. 

Internal Parasites: Birds affected with this com- 
plaint die suddenly. If examined after death, ex- 
ceedingly minute parasites, hardly discernible to 
the naked eye, are found upon the liver and viscera. 
There is no known cause for this malady; nor 
known cure. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

WOUNDS 

This diaper is devoted to tlie eiire of wounds 
and external physical complaints; necessitating 
treatment of a surgical nature. 

Wounds: Wounds usually heal on a ])ird withoul 
further attention, by the i)rocess of adhesion; es- 
pecially, after being washed with a sponge dipped 
into luke Avarm water and cooled off. In more seri- 
ous cases, bathe in a solution of arnica water, twen- 
ty-five to fifty parts water; with solution of carbol- 
ic acid and sweet oil, one to tw^o hundred drops. 
Even if left entirely alone, bird wounds usually heal 
in a very short time. 

Broken Bones: The broken bones of a bird heal 
with surprising rapidity. A simple break of the 
foot or ankle, needs only rest to mend perfectly. 
Of course, it is better, if the breeder takes both 
broken ends and carefully manipulates them into 
their proper place ; then gently places them between 
two flat little sticks ; cover this wnth warm glue ; 
then tie securely with a strong but soft cotton cord ; 
then cover this with thick, luke warm glue, evenly 



180 



covered; hold the bird iu hand, until tfiis is dry and 
put him into a small cage. After about four weeks, 
soak the leg in water and carefully remove ban- 
dage. 

Until the leg is thoroughly healed, give the bird 
a low, broad perch on which he can rest easily. 
Place drink and food in a position where it can be 
easily obtained without any effort. If the break is 
on the wing, naturally, the feathers must be cut, 
but by no means plucked out. Cover this place with 
a woolen bandage; over this wrap a linen bandage, 
which has been soaked in a solution of water glass 
and bind it ; then sprinkle this with powdered chalk. 
This method should have first consideration as it 
holds the break in an exact and natural position. 
At the same time, it is very easy to cut off. 

Swellings: A hard swelling may be cured with 
warm poultices and a little fat to soften it. A very 
inflamed swelling, where it is both hot and red, may 
be cooled considerabl}^ with lead water. This may 
be softened at the same time, with wan^itli by often 
renewed poultices. A ripe matter swelling can be 
usually treated by lancing and pressing the sub- 
stance out without any danger. After lancing the 
affected part, paint with carbolic acid solution and 
sweet oil, one to two hundred parts. 

Skin Boil: This affliction usually comes on the 
head next to the bill or near the eye. These are 



181 



neitehr hard nor soft. They are filled with skin like 
matter and enlarge very rapidly. Sometimes they 
go very deep. They cause the bird a great deal 
of discomfort, misery and pain. As long as it is 
small and sets loose in the skin, it may be touched 
with caustic. This may also be removed, by tying 
it off with a thin but very strong thread. 

Skin boils usually come from impure blood. 
The removal of one will not help, as new ones con- 
stantly appear. The strictest care should be used 
in removing all heating and unnatural food. Give 
salicylic acid water, (one to three hundred parts 
water) , slightly warmed to drink ; continue this 
treatment two or three weeks. It is necessary to 
carefully watch the stool and keep it in a nealthty 
condition. 

Misformation of Bill: If the upper bill grows too 
far over until it hinders the bird from picking up 
it's food, it should be often ru])bed with warm oil. 
Then take a sharp pair of scissors or knife and care- 
fully cut back to the natural length. Extreme cau- 
tion, should be used in performing this operation, to 
prevent breaking or tearing the bill ; as it is easy 
to reach the quick; which often becomes sore and 
never heals ; frequently, breaking again and causing 
the bird much pain; sometimes keeping it from eat- 
ing; finally causing it's death. Should such a break 
in the bill horn happen, it should be cleaned out 
daily and painted with a mixture of warm oil. 



182 



A hart, and sometimes even a well bill, will 
suddenly begin to have an unnatural growth at the 
end. After a time, it will become split and ragged. 
This may be due to insufficient or incorrect nourish- 
ment of the bill horn. Such a bill must be very 
carefully cut back with the scissors ; even then some- 
tinies, the bird will succumb. 

The ])ill liorn often g-i-ows very long- mid g?t^ 
soft and either bends or brittles off, so thai it be- 
comes useless to crack seed with. In such an 
emergency, give plenty of lime and sand. With a 
bird suifering from this malady the breeder should 
give him such food as he can eat and easily digest. 
In most cases, this will have to be egg food. 

Desease of the Feet: On a neglected bird's feet, 
under the dirt, infiamation will set in ; tliere will be 
matter with large and small swel.iiigs; which 
will tend to inflame the joints, causing the decaying 
and dying off of seperate toes ; it may even cause a 
l)ird to lose the whole foot. If this is taken in time 
and bathed in warm water, then the inflamed 'feet 
cooled with lead water, and the necessary places 
painted daily with thinned glycerine, one to ten 
parts; then powdered thickly with the finest corn 
starch, this condition will be speedily relieved. In 
very bad cases, anoint with lead salve or if the 
Avound is open and wet, anoint with zinc salve. If 



I8:j 



this is done, the foot must be placed in a leather, 
bag and tied up securely ; as the salve is poison for' 
the bird. 

Worse than the above are callouses from which 
can come swellings in the joints or corns. In the 
first place, treat as above. However, try to find the 
cause, which may be the thin, hard perches. Tlie 
corn must be thoroughly rubbed in with Avarm sweet 
oil. In this way, it may be softened and then 
washed in warm soap water; then peeled very care- 
fully with a small knife; then anoint with vaseline. 

At times, caused by internal sickness, yellow 
swellings and knots will appear on the legs ; especi- 
ally, between the toes. These must be treated 
as other swellings. They usually show themselves 
with the cause of the sickness. 

To cleanse caked feet, one must be careful in 
picking off the dirt which has accumulated and 
hardened. This substance should ])e removed by 
soaking the feet in luke warm water and soap. 
When thoroughly dried with a cloth, moisten with 
olive oil or vaseline. If done otherwi'^e, picking off 
the encrusted dirt roughly, a part ( F a toe or the 
nail might be removed. 

After a bird is three years old, he is sometimes 
troubled with long claws. These must be cut off 
with sharp scigsors. To do this, hold claws toward 



184 



the light, when a red stripe will be perceptible; 
this reaches from out the flesh, denoting the flesh 
mark, and beyond and away from whicn any part of 
the claw may be trimmed off. It is very important to 
keep the toe nails of a bird at a normal and proper 
length, for when overgrown, they may be caught 
and entangled in the wires of the cage, causing the 
iracture of a leg or wing. 

Sometimes, a bird is bald, because he did not 
complete his moult or may have caught cold. Put 
a rusty nail into his water to strengthen him; he 
needs iron ; or touch the bald spot with alcohol, whis- 
key or l)randy. It may also be a touch of eczema or 
skin disease. Alcohol will kill the germ which 
Introduces it, if it is of local origin. If constitutional, 
being due to internal causes, feed with rape seed 
only, until the cause is discovered. 

Yellow Gair This complaint may be observed by 
a small ulcer or a number of them, usually, around 
the eyes. It is prol)al)ly due to the use of too rich 
food. The bird should be placed upon a rape 
seed diet and given a piece of apple occasionally, 
with a spray of spinach salad to regulate the condi- 
tion of his blood; a drop of castor oil may be given 
every other day, until the blood is in good condition. 
The ulcers should be carefully treated by cutting 
and anointing them with a sugar of lead ointment. 



CHAPTER XVII. 
BREEDNG FOR TYPES 

The most important doctrine in the law of 
evolution is the principle of natural selection. All 
nature is regulated by the doctrine of natural selec- 
tion. It may be either natural or artificial. It if? 
natural, when subject to environment; produced by 
food, habits and climate. It is artificial, v^hen in- 
voked by the premeditated design of man to produce 
specific results, in color, conformation, plumage, size 
and melody. Science has demonstrated that habits, 
size and color are regulated by the effect of external 
influences on both plants and animals; by food, 
climate and soil. Every member of the body re- 
sponds to the influence of environment or external 
conditions. It may be accidental or premeditated. 
If accidental, it may result in the development of 
certain types, produced in the pursuit of food or 
conquests. If premeditated, it may be the design 
of man to produce, by food, culture and breeding, 
some fixed standard of type in both plants and ani- 
mals. 

The cultured song of a roller is but the 
product of natural selection; the selecting of both 



18G 



male and female representatives of certain melody, 
to produce by the transmission of species and cul 
ture, the desired type of melody. Just as birds of 
check color are produced by the crossing of yellow 
and green males and females, so may the production 
of specific qualities otf melody be pi^oduced, by 
select breeding. 

In accidental selection, which crepends upon 
chance in the wilds of the forest, the male transmits 
his strength or cunning, in the struggle for exis- 
tence; thereby the weaker type is eliminated; hence 
in the course of time, by the process of elimination, 
a strong breed is gradually evolved; which is the 
survival of the fittest. When this principle of 
natural selection is invoked by man, lu proauce 
some specific type, in either plants or animals, it 
responds more readily to premeditated design or in- 
telligence than w^hen regulated by accident or chance. 
Select breeding, by choosing the male and female 
representatives of some desired type, continuously, 
for generation upon generation, is bound to create 
exact and speedy results. Upon this theory the Ger- 
mans proceeded to produce a distinct type of canary ; 
they bred mainly for song; hence the incomparable 
melody of the roller. 

In the wilds of nature, types are produced in 
tlie taste, habits and disposition of both male and 
female birds. Females, in the animal kingdom are 
attracted by the various virtues or qualities of males. 



187 



The i'eniale of certaiu species is attracted either by 
the brilliant plumage, song, virility or courage of 
the male ; even by vocal and instrumental music. 
There are many habits and devices resorted to by 
male birds to attract the female. They possess 
special weapons for fighting, such as spurs, and 
thick feather ruffs used as shields ; they are orna- 
mented with combs, wattles, air distended sacks, 
top knots, plumes and lengthened feathers, grace- 
fully springing from all parts of the body. The 
beak and naked skin about the head are georgeous- 
ly colored; males pay court by dancing, and fan- 
tastic antics are performed on the ground or in 
the air. In one instance, the male omits a musk 
odor like the Australian musk duck, which can be 
detected long before the bird is seen. Among the 
song birds the best singing males are enabled to 
procure mates more speedily than those which pro- 
duce no melody, therefore, in course of time, the 
muscles of the larynx are stronger in males than' 
females. 

It is contended by breeders, that the female 
roller is attracted by the melody of the male ; hence 
his love song immediately upon being placed in a 
breeding cage with a female. In a state of nature 
gradually, after many generations of females select- 
ing superior songsters, a fixed type of melody would 
be produced. In this rivalry, the best singers 
would be enabled to procreate their kind; by the 



188 



l)rocesR of elimination; the poorer singers gi-adu<illy 
becoming extinct. By this method in course ol' 
time, melody would respoad to the law of natural 
selection. The victor, by either combat and strug- 
gle for supremacy, or by fierce rivalry, dependent 
upon sexual desire, and strife to attract his mate, 
the roller species would eventually produce a fixed 
type. Tliese results in the law of natural selection 
are produced by environment, which is subject in 
the forests, to accident or chance ; the male trans- 
mitting the very quality which made him victor, 
whether by combat, beauty of plumage or melody. 
The roller, of course, can only be improved by arti- 
ficial selection; his complete domestication placing 
his improvement entirely upon the ingennity and 
experience of the breeder. 

Artificial selection is controlled by the desire 
in man to produce some particular, specific type. 
In plants, this may be observed in creating fruits 
of enormous size and sweetness ; even trees are mag- 
nified or minimized in growth. In the animal king- 
dom, dogs have responded to this immutable law 
to such an extent, that it seems almost inconceivable 
that the giant St.Bernard and the pigmy Chihuahua 
could have originated froMi the same ancestors, the 
fox or the wolf. The marvelous result of this doc- 
trine has been disclosed in the creations of almost 
two hundred distinct types of the original red rock 
pigeon. 



189 



Man himself, it lias l)een satisfactorily demon- 
strated from the drift of ancient gravel beds, has 
indelibly written his history; that he was evolved 
from the manlike ape ; which gradually, by the force 
of environment, learned to walk upright, by streng- 
thening the calves of his legs; finally, from gutteral 
sounds, he composed a form of speech. Lamarck, 
on ''Habif says, that the long neck of the giraffe 
has arisen from it's constantly stretching out it's 
neck to high trees; from the endeavor to pick the 
leaves off their branches; as this animal generally 
inhabits dry districts, where only the foliage of 
trees affords them nourishment; naturally they are 
forced to their action for sustenance. In like man- 
ner, the long tongue of woodpeckers, humming birds 
and ant eaters, arose from constant habit of fetching 
their food out of narrow, small and deep crevices 
or channels. 

This wonderful law is further disclosed by the 
web between the toes of frogs and other aquatic 
animals; which have arisen solely from the con- 
stant endeavor to swim by striking their feet against 
the water. The very movements of swimming, as 
an inheritance, fix these habits on the descendants; 
finally, by further elaboration the organs were en- 
tirely transformed. On the contrary, muscles once 
highly developed, become useless and merely rudi- 
mentary; such as the cartilage of the human ear. 
This member was once highly important to pre- 



190 



historic man to catch the sound of menacing danger 
in the wildwood; neglected, under changed condi- 
tions and mode of existence, it has ceased to exist. 

The great law of natural selection is observed 
in the production of many types of singing birds. 
This has been successfully accomplished by patient- 
ly mating pairs most distinctly representing certain 
types. The English caring little for song, have 
produced handsome shaped birds of rich, dark or 
orange color ; they have also excelled in creating 
birds of enormous crests and topknots of peculiar 
form. The Scotch try for fancy markings ; the 
Belgians are interested in shape alone. The French 
are attracted by the lustre of brilliant plumage. But 
German breeders have always made song and melody 
a specialty. Their type Avas produced after long 
years of natural selection. By patient study of the 
habits, taste and disposition of the roller, they have 
probably produced the greatest domestic songster 
of the age. In cultivating the song of the roller, 
with the use of the nightingale and thrush, musical 
instruments devised to perfect certain chords of 
melody, the voice of a roller responded to the law 
of natural selection. 

The American breeders have always admired 
and patronized the German birds. In the past few 
years, they have improved wonderfully in the class 
and quality of their breeding. If this success is 



191 



provement, as to the quality and softness. While 
tlie promise of improved melody is limitless, the pre- 
requisite to harmony, is that of a sound body. The 
absolute necessity of health and vitality is indis- 
pensable to any substantial improvement. No one 
can deny, that the roller is in great need of physi- 
cal improvement. But the great question underly- 
ing the secret of all success in roller development, 
is the food question. The creation of sweeter tones 
and variety of tours, is entirely dependent upon the 
kind and quality of nourishment, without producing 
any of those abdominal complications which always 
follow the use of improper food and overfeeding. 

With the food question once firmly established 
in the breeders mind, the further development of 
continued, they will be able to produce the equal 
ii* not the most superior bird in the world. 

To Seifert, of Dresden, Germany, the American 
breeder is deeply indebted; his birds were recog-' 
nized as among the best throughout the world. After 
attaining perfection, in the production of the roller 
with wonderful melody, he came here, with several 
hundreds of his best birds; to this stock Ameri- 
can breeders attril)ute their success. 

Apparently, the great goal of the American 
breeder is to first produce greater range of melody, 
in the sweetness of tone and variety of tours; 
since there are certain tours which need vast im- 



192 



melody should be of minor concern. Even in the 
wild state, without the assistance of intellectual 
guidance or selection, birds develop the most 
marvelous sounds. They have even created instru- 
mental song and melody; such as the peacock and 
the bird of paradise ; which rattle their quills to- 
gether ; turkey cocks scrape their wings against the 
ground; the male of the Kaliz-pheasant in the 
Himalayas, makes a singular, drumming sound Avith 
his wings, like shaking a stiff piece of cloth. In 
Africa, weavers make a rapid, whirring sound like 
a child's rattle. The thundering noise of the com- 
mon snipe is made by the peculiar shaped feathers 
of the tail. This instrumental music, developed 
without artificial selection or assistance, has been 
gradually evolved by the males to attract the fe- 
males. What should be the vocal possibility of 
the roller, when guided in the development, by the 
intelligence of man in the selection of melody? 

By observing the wonderful laws of natural 
selection, there must eventually be great improve- 
ment in the color, size, plumage, melody and con- 
formation of the roller, and which can only be 
regulated by the interest aroused and intelligence 
displayed in breeding. The possibilities of the fu- 
ture bird, may be estimated by the wonderful de- 
velopment of the past. This may be observed 
in the amazing variations produced in size and 



193 



length, from the original small bird of the Canary 
Islands, of five inches, to the one of to-day of eight 
inches; in color, from the original apple green, to 
birds of yellow, check or mottled, deep green, white, 
cinnamon and deep orange; in conformation, from 
the small, stunted original type to the long, angular 
and husky specimen; in plumage, from the smooth 
tight fitting coat, to top knots of astounding crests, 
curly and highly feathered kind; in song, from the 
loud and boisterous bird of the heather, singing with 
mouth fully distended, to the polished songster, 
softly warbling, with a variety of melody and bill 
closed; forming it's song from the throat. 

Any one of the types may be heightened and im- 
proved by selecting both male and female of the 
type desired and breeding for that one effect; in 
fact, several features may be practically combined, 
such as color, size, song and conformation in one 
mating. 

Suppose one is breeding to develop the Knorre 
and Water Roll; then use the male possessing the 
deepest Knorre to be mated with the hen which 
is sired by some bird of a deep Knorre; then the 
following season, their nestlings will be mated with 
the offspring descended from birds with a deep 
Knorre. This same principle can be invoked as 
to color, conformation and size. If one wishes 
yellow birds, ma,te yellow males and females on 



194 



the' same plan of selection. To produce green 
birds, mate two green birds; to produce mottled or 
check birds, cr6ss a yellow male and green female 
or vice versa. 

To produce birds with a variety of tours, mate a 
cock with a good substantial tour of bass foundation, 
with a hen descended from a cock with an opposite 
variety or class of tours. To improve the offspring 
of a good stock bird with note too high, mate him 
with a hen descended from a cock with a deep 
Knorre or Water Roll. 

The peculiar law of natural selection in breed- 
ing likes to produce a fixed type, occasionally, re- 
verses itself. This is noticed in an effort to produce 
top knots, by breeding male and female top knots 
together. Such a union will invariably produce 
bald headed birds. To produce the top knot, either 
male or female top knot must be mated with a plain 
bird. But this offspring, if a plain bird, should be 
mated the following season with a top knot, but not 
of the same family. 

In breeding for tj^pes, two problems for choice 
confront tlie breeder-, sentiment or business, pride 
or commerce. While the yellow bird is handsomer 
and the choice of the public, the green bird is har- 
dier, as a rule, more rugged, a sweeter singer, a 
better stock bird and will last longer. He is pre- 
ferred by the breeder. 




Birds in Good Health. 

CHAPTER XVIII 

HINTS TO BREEDERS AND FANCIERS 

Never purchase a bird, male or female, until 
you have "blown it up", to ascertain it's physical 
condition; a process of blowing up the feathers of 
it's abdomen and breast to see the color of it's stom- 
ach; since the stomach is to the bird what a ther- 
mometer is to the weather; it determines it's exact 
physical condition. If it is a pale pink color, the 
bird is in a healthy condition. If slightly reddish, 
and the male in full song, without some internal, con- 
stitutional or inherent defect, he is ready to breed. 
If a pale sickly sallow or yellow color or bluish, the 
bird is not healthy. 

Never purchase a male, until you have heard 
him sing; if to breed, until you know the stock, 
through either -inquiry as to ancestry or relying 



196 



upon the confidence reposed in the reputation of a 
reliable dealer. Never purchase a hen, unless you 
are thorouhly convinced of the genuiness and quality 
of her pedigree ; the younger, the better ; purchase 
her from the early year's produce, around about the 
months of October or Novebmer for the following 
Spring breeding. 

Do not buy any bird, male or female, simply 
because it is cheap. Quality and breeding is the 
first prerequisite to success. 

Always wrap up a bird securely before taking 
it out into the weather; the colder, the more securely 
the bird should be wrapped. In the Spring and 
Summer time, make one or two holes through the 
paper or cloth for air in the inside cover. 

Do not feed any -sweets, unless purely medicinal. 

Do not breed birds possessing any constitution- 
al defects whatever; they transmit maladies of all 
kinds; especially, hens and cocks with asthma and 
liver diseases ; the healthier and stronger, the better. 

Do not continue to breed from the same stock; 
inbreeding weakens the stock ; outside stock may be 
obtained from reliable breeders for outcrossing, 
which materially strengthens the breed. 

Do not breed in the hot months of July and 
August; it weakens and destroys the birds; the re- 
sults are very unsatisfactory. 

Never enter breeding room with your hat on; 
it makes birds nervous and fretful. 



197 



Do not ai)proach cage hastily or luovc roughly ; 
move from one position to another with eare ; speak 
or chirp to the bird to allay fear. 

Do not sweep the breeding room, before having 
sprinkled the floor with water; dust is injurious to 
birds' throats and lungs. To avoid this, the cages 
can be covered. 

Avoid sudden change of temperature in bird 
room ; the temperature should always be normal ; 
between 65 and 70 degrees ; unless birds have been 
accustomed to cooler temperature. A breeder must 
adopt that temperature upon which his birds will 
thrive best. 

Do not purchase poor or cheap seed or gravel. 
Avoid too much light or sunshine; except after tlie 
bath. Strong light makes a bird sing Joud or shrill. 

Avoid drafts, steam or damp air. Cages should 
never be hung higher than a gas jet; never more 
than four cages on top of each other. 

Ventilation is very necessary. It is preferable 
to have the ingress of pure air, if possible, near the 
floor, the egress for impure air near the ceiling; 
to avoid the danger of colds and drafts. 

Never allow birds to become too fat ; it impairs 
their song and destroys all prospects of breeding. 

Do not hang the bird in a doorway, window 
or on a porch or in the yard; such a position may 
be subject to draft and sudden change of weather; 
the roller is not as hardj^ as the ''chapper". 



198 



Never place the bird at too sliort a distance 
from the ceiling or near a stove, heater or radiator; 
the air is too dry and warm in such positions; the 
cage should always be at least about two and one 
half feet f-rom the ceiling. 

The cage ought to be cleansed occasionallj^ to 
prevent the growth of vermin. If possiDle, it should 
be cleaned every six weeks, by dipping it into a so- 
lution of black carbolic. 

A bath should be given on warm days only, or 
in a warm room ; preferably in the morning or at 
noon, to allow the bird ample time to dry it's fea- 
thers. The bath serves a threefold purpose, i. e., it 
is a health promoter, plumage preserver and insect 
abater. 

Every breeder should keep a pedigree book to 
register the date of settings, hatching and paren- 
tage of his birds ; also, leg bands to distinguish and 
identify the different individuals and families, 
to prevent in-breeding; he should also keep in the 
breeding establishment, a bread grater, egg sieve, 
seed crusher or grinder, a pair of small bellows, 
a distributor for the purpose of spraying insect 
powder and a thermometer. 

A good remedy for birds whicli drop their 
feathers after the moult, is to use ten drops of 
tincture of steel, to two tablespoonfuls of water 
daily. 



i!)<J 



Every breeder should become a member 0(f 
some local bird society, to eujoy the privilege and 
opportunity that such membership will afford, of 
showing, exhibiting and comparing n^s birds with 
the birds of other breeders, in order to promote the 
general welfare of the bird industry, and that he 
may lend assistance and help in advocating and 
agitating a protective tariff, for the protection and 
improvement of the American bred birds. 

The American breeder is entitled to such legis- 
lation and every one interested in this industry 
should use every influence to make possible the 
passage of tliis bill ; by either writing or seeing his 
Congressman. 

A bird should be shipped in a small wooden 
cage, bound around the sides with a cloth or paper 
to prevent draught, opening from the top, so that 
the expressman can see the inside of the cage. 
There should be a water and food cup on the inside 
of the cage. The outside cover should be marked 
''Live Stock, .handle with care!" The expressman 
will water and care for the bird. Of course, the bird 
must be delivered for shipment in good condition. 
If it fails to arrive or dies while in transit, the 
express company usually forfeits the reasonable 
valuation of Twenty Dollars, unless a higher valua- 
tion has been previously claimed. Sometimes, water 
is provided by placing a sponge filled with water 
between the bars of the cage. 



200 



In England, the leading bird journal, ''The 
I3ird Cage," has succeeded in establishing the de- 
posit system, between seller and purchaser. Dealers 
in this country, might with mutual satisfaction, imi- 
tate this plan. It would enable the bird industry 
to prevent innocent purchasers from being im- 
posed upon by charletans and mountebanks. This 
system would establish confidence between vendor 
and vendee. The idea of this plan is to satisfy the 
purchaser, who must rely upon the sole representa- 
tion of the seller. The representative of "The Bird 
Cage" acts as stakeholder and referee, until the 
sale is fully and satisfactorily consummated. The 
bird is shipped on approval ; at the seller 's risk. If 
the bird should die or is not satisfactory, upon the 
mutual agreement of the parties, the deposit may be 
either refunded or held pending another shipment. 

In this country, the American Canary Journal, 
is the leading exponent of the roller; it is edited 
and published in Brooklyn, New York, by Alexan- 
der Volkommer; who represents The Canary Bird 
Breeders' and Protective Association of New York. 
It is a very entertaining and instructive magazine. 

The Cage Bird World is edited by August 
M. Roth, of Baltimore, Maryland, and is ably and 
cleverly written. 

Females often get ready too soon in the year, 
in a breeding room where they can hear the males 



201 



all the time. If the breeder has sufficient room, 
he can keep the females separated; where they can- 
not hear singing males. By this plan, the breeder 
will not have to begin breeding too soon. Too 
early breeding is inadvisable. Females do not feed 
well during the cold winter months; hence many 
nestlings die. Finally, when the real mating sea- 
son arrives and the weather is warmer, the females 
are exhausted and do not lay many eggs; the re- 
sults then are very unsatisfactory. From April to 
July is ample time to raise many birds. After all, 
quality is more desirable than quantity in any live 
stock industry. 

Beware of sudden changes of temperature in 
breeding room; as it causes premature moulting. 
This may indefinitely terminate the mating season 
of both male and female birds. 

It is always better to remove the male from 
his mate, after the eggs are laid, when the room 
is dark ; so that the female will not miss him and 
be disturbed; it is also advisable after the female 
has built her nest, to place the male in the breeding 
cage to begin mating at night. If at any time the 
male must be removed after mating, it is better 
to place him in a distant room where the female 
cannot hear him. 

There is no connection between the bowels and 
laying gut of the female, except in the rectum; 



202 



hence oil can only assist that portion of the female 
anatomy by making it more elastic, if egg bound; 
it also quickens the healing process of the laying 
duct. 

Clear eggs appear mostly at the beginning of 
the season, caused by change of food ; there are not 
so many as a rule, in the middle and end of the 
breeding season. 

It is estimated that in the first two hatches, 
seventy-five per cent, are males; fifty per cent, in 
the third hatch and twenty five per cent, in the 
fourth. 

If the female does not feed first born nestlings, 
she may be often successfully tried with young 
birds from eight to ten days old. In most cases 
they will not only feed these larger birds, but in 
course of time become good mothers. 

The nest egg is very essential in keeping the 
laying hen satisfied; without it, she is liable to lay 
on the floor of the cage. 

There should be a sharp border line, between 
the yolk and white portion of a boiled egg; if they 
have flowed into each other, the egg is not fit for 
feeding. 

Flying is a great help to birds too fat. This 
exercise combined with ample green food will soon 
reduce them to the proper condition. 



===== 203 ===== 

Inspect all dark places of the breeding room 
for vermin. The cage and nesting material are 
not the only haunts for these pests. 

The biggest crusade against "chappers", is 
for breeders to join canary societies. This is not 
only necessary for concerted action and self pro- 
tection in the defense of breeding, but will event- 
ually cause ''chappers" to disappear from wealthy 
homes ; first class rollers will then take their places. 

The United Canary Breeders of America is the 
main organization for the breeding industry; it is 
the father of all societies throughout the country; 
many bird organizations are affilited with this main 
branch. 

There are two classes of birds judged at ex- 
hibitions; Class A, consists of birds owned and ex- 
hibited by members only and Class B is composed 
of birds entered by the outside public. It might be 
Avell to encourage exhibitors of Class B, in order to 
arouse more general enthusiasm and universal in- 
terest in the melody of the roller. 

The best plan to arouse the greatest interest 
in the breeding industry, would be to offer special 
prizes for certain tours ; a medal offered in a special 
class for the bird with the best Waterroll, Knarrow 
or Hollowbell would be the means of perfecting 



204 



these tours and stimulating the efforts of breeders 
to produce birds with surpassing melody. 

It has been suggested by a number of breeders, 
that it would be advisable to offer prizes for females 
at bird shows ; not for their song, but for their call, 
shape, color and general condition. Such an in- 
ducement would eventually improve the quality of 
our females. Whenever there is a reward offered 
in any class of live stock to produce specific results, 
competition is stimulated; an effort is then made 
by breeders, with the desire to perfect and improve 
that particular type. 

Young birds while studying should not be dis- 
turbed; unnecessary disturbance causes broken 
tours. 

Crushed hemp seed sours in a few days; it 
then becomes injurious; hence it is necessary to 
])e kept in a fresh condition. 

The necessity of pure water is disclosed in the 
chemical analysis of an egg, which is PROTEIN 
i;ir)9^, fats 17%, sulphur 2%, water 67.5%. The 
combined PROTEIN, fats and sulphur represent 
32.5% of the entire egg composition and water 
76.5%. Hence there is 107.7% more water than 
tlie combined other elements. 




The American Spirit. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



PROTECTIVE TARIFF FOR AMERICAN BIRDS 



The tariff question is of utmost, vital import- 
ance to the American breeder. There could be noth- 
ing more menacing, than the present unprotected and 
exposed condition of the American breeder to the 
unjust, inequitable and unequal competition pro- 
duced by the importation from Europe of cheap and 
inferior birds. 



206 



The breeding, raising and training of rollers 
for profit, could never be successfully maintained in 
the United States without a protective tariff. Either 
Congress must come to the rescue of the American 
roller industry or else it is doomed to perish ! The 
Amevican breeder obtained inadvertently through 
war, what ho has thus far been denied in times of 
peace ; an opportunity to build and develop without 
molestation, an industry which bids fair to rival, 
if not surpass that of the great German breeders. 
Four years of World Warfare have enabled the 
American breeder without the hindrance of a pau- 
perizing competition, to lay the foundation of a 
tliriving industry, in which the improvement of the 
class and quality of tlie roller was marvelous. Dur- 
ing these four years of free and untrammelled com- 
petition, the strength, health and melody of the 
roller was greatly improved. During that time the 
progress of the American breeder assumed pro- 
portions which have caused the importer to view 
with alarm our wonderful success. 

To permit this thriving industry, straggling 
with the courage of honest convictions, to fail, 
through Congress turning a deaf ear to the earnest 
entreaty of the American breeder, would not only 
be woefully reprehensible and calamitous for this 
infant industry, but a crime committed against the 
people of the United States! Can the Congress oT 



207 



the United States, thoroughly conversant wit!, the 
particulars of this industry; fully informed of the 
controversy between the breeder and importer, re- 
fuse to render legislative assistance so sorely 
needed? 

The controversy between the two interested 
disputants is based upon very simple causes; that 
of the importer is purely commercial; that of the 
breeder is the sheer impossibility of producing sickly 
and inferior birds, to compete with importations 
from Europe. The difference between the low cost 
of production in Germany and the high cost of food 
material in the United States, is the Insurmountable 
obstacle with which the American breeder contends. 
This difference in the cost of production between 
the German breeder in Europe and American bree- 
der in the United States, not only regulates the pur- 
chase price of the roller, but forces the American 
breeder to either raise birds for pleasure or give up 
in despair! 

Birds raised in Germany, France, Belgium and 
England are produced at a very small cost, as com- 
pared to the enormous expense necessary here to 
raise and traii;i a singer for the market. When a 
young bird, raised here to maturity, has been prop- 
erly equipped for sale, receiving the necessary care 
and attention requisite for his health and vitality. 



208 



the cost has been far disproportionate and unequal 
to the amount expended by the German breeder; 
but that difference has been more than compen- 
sated in the class, melody and quality of the 
American bird! Of course, the bird produced in 
the Hartz Mountains, at far less cost, can be and is 
sold much cheaper here, than the American-bred 
bird, representing the exhorbitant and excessive 
difference of cost in food, labor, time and housing- 
facilities. Such is the magnitude of this intrinsic 
disparity, an imported bird from Europe, can be 
raised, crated, shipped and sold here for the paltry 
sum of four or five dollars! 

To produce healthy birds of melody and qual- 
ity in the United States, lettuce, rape and canary 
seed are very essential; egg food is absolutely in- 
dispensable to the roller industry. How could birds 
produced in the United States, fed upon egg food 
and lettuce, when eggs here cost, from eighty cents 
to one dollar per dozen, and lettuce fifteen cents a 
head, compete with European bred birds sold for 
four dollars apiece? 

To raise the American bird to an age of matur- 
ity, the very lowest individual cost estimated would 
be about eight dollars a head! Unless this inequal- 
ity of production is equalized by a protective tariff, 
the American breeder must cease to compete in 
this unequal, cruel and inhuman warfare to raise 



209 



birds for profit; the Araerican roller industry must 
not only shrink and decline, but eventually perish ' 

The object of taxation is to defray the expen- 
ses of government. This system has been so 
devised, as to equitably levy the greater taxation 
upon luxuries; to remove the heavier burden from 
the necessaries of life; to place the lion's share 
upon the shoulders of the rich; to relieve as far 
as possible the poor. The canary bird is not a 
necessity, but has been justly classed as a luxury; 
as such, this bird should be taxed. It has ever 
been the policy of the United States government to 
tax luxuries and exempt necessaries. What invis- 
ible, sinister influence, now makes a distinction 
against the poor breeder in favor of the rich im- 
porter ? 

A high quality prima roller can be sold in 
Germany at from seventy to one hundred marks, 
equal at times, to from four to six dollars in United 
States currency! A bird of equivalent class and 
quality could hardly be produced at maturity here, 
for less than eight or ten dollars! Shall the won- 
derful progress made by the American breeder dur- 
ing the war, in which, by thrift and energy, patience 
and sacrifice, he has mede this industry blossom 
like the rose, perish because Congress fails to hear 
the plaintive voice from the cellar, while listening 
to the stentorian shout from the roof? 



210 



Shall the will of the importer supersede that 
of the breeder? Shall the sovereign will of the 
people prevail or the wealth and influence of the 
importer ? 

The American public has been grievously im- 
posed upon in the purchase of these imported birds ; 
they have been far from saisfactory in melody and 
health. These birds do not last long; in a very 
short period they usually succumb to some com- 
plaint; many dying during their voyage. One is 
forced to arrive at one of two alternatives; either 
these imported birds have failed to meet the ex- 
cessive hardship of a sea voyage, or, that they have 
been unable to endure the abrupt change of water 
and climatic conditions. It is further contended, 
by those in a position to know, that the Americans 
receive only the culls, cast-offs and weaklings from 
the hatches of European breeders ! It has been well 
established by most competent authority, that these 
birds are usually affliced with typhoid, cholera and 
consumption; they are generally weak, emaciated 
and debilitated ; sometimes, whole crates of birds die 
immediately upon arrival. They fail to produce 
those soft, low tones of melody highly essential to 
good roller music. The tours sung by these birds 
indicate clearly that they have not been either asso- 
ciated with or influenced by good vorsingers; they 
often produce notes of the "chapper" variety, com- 



211 



billed with tho. roller tours; clearly deinontsrating 
that they are birds of hybrid or mixed lineage. 
Many "chappers" are sold from this niotely collec- 
tion of imported birds for genuine "Hartz IMountain 
IvoUer Canaries". As usual, the American public 
has l)eeii inveigled into the purchase of such birds 
by the magic word "Imported". A protective tariff 
would protect the American public from this un- 
holy deception ! 

lini)orted by the hundreds of thousands, sold 
here for a song, the American breeder has small 
chance of competition. To continue with his in- 
dustry, he must either produce birds of far inferior 
quality or desist. Shall the Congress of the United 
States fail to heed the eloquent appeal of it's loyal 
constituents? Shall the earnest request of the 
American breeder fall upon deaf ears? 

The American breeder has built up this industry 
by patient and incessant toil, by much sacrifice dur- 
ing the rigors of wartime scarcity, and it is the duty 
of the American government, to protect him by just, 
immediate and adequate legislation. The slogan of 
every breeder here, should be, ''America for Amer- 
icans, first, last and all time"! With this war cry, 
persistently, sincerely reiterated, the victory must 
eventually be^ his ! 



2ia 



The protective tariff will improve the quality, 
health and melody of the roller; protect the Amer- 
ican public from being imposed upon in the pur- 
chase of diseased and inferior birds; defend the 
breeder from the cruel encroachment of an unjust 
competition. The importance and necessity of this 
legislation will not only be universally beneficial to 
breeder and purchaser, but proportionately increase 
the revenue of the government by an equitable and 
and fair taxation. No one with the patriotism of a 
good citizen, a sincere desire for the welfare of the 
roller, a genuine love for American industries, can 
honestly and conscientiously fail to either appre- 
ciate or indorse the request for this needful legisla- 
tion. 

By combined force, this evil may be corrected. 
To assist in the consumation of this victory, each 
breeder should join one of the bird societies; each 
society should send a signed petition to it's con- 
gressman, earnestly advocating and demanding the 
passage of a protective tariff, adequately, fairly 
and humanely adjusted, to equalize the present un- 
just conditions and protect the American breeder 
from utter annihilation. "With each breeder, show- 
ing proper interest, determination and enthusiasm 
in his demand for equitable recognition, soliciting 
influence broadcast, procuring signed petitions, 
sending delegations to intercede with the Ways 



213 



and Means Committee of Congress — , success, will 
be assured! With justice on one side in the com- 
bat to overthrow avarice — , righteousness must 
prevail ! 

To further aid in the accomplishment of this 
commendable purpose, instructive propaganda must 
be prepared, to thoroughly arouse the American pub- 
lic and breeders to the absolute necessity of insisting 
and demanding that an American industry, of such 
vital importance to the vast army of bird enthus- 
iasts be protected; that American products are en- 
titled to first consideration; in preference to Eng- 
land, France, Belgium or Germany; that corrupt 
practices can neither retard nor prevent beneficial 
legislation. By this plan, we not only prevent the 
American public from ruthlessly being deceived and 
imposed upon in the purchase of sick and inferior 
birds, but give an infant industry a fair chance to 
thrive. 

To succeed in this combat, there must be far 
more fraternity and harmony and less jealousy and 
dissatisfaction among American breeders ; there must 
be more enthusiasm and less lethargy ; they must be 
aroused as never before to the supreme importance 
and necessity of this legislation; there must be far 
more interest and determination displayed. The 
breeder here must be ever mindful of the fact, that 
"in union there i^ strength"; that in the immortal 



214 



language of John Hancock, while signing the De- 
claration of Independence — , "We must either hang 
together or hang seperately"! No single individual 
could be expected to accomplish this gigantic result. 
But combined, earnest, resolute and determined to 
fortify and protect this industry from the ravages of 
an unjust, inequitable and necessarily fatal competi- 
tion the American breeder must eventually succeed. 

To fail, he would lose the advantage gained 
during the war. To succumb, not only will the 
quality of birds, which American breeders so highly 
cherish, deteriorate, but this fair industry which he 
has erected as a monument to his indefatigable toil, 
will eventually crumble and collapse ! 

The Canary Bird Breeders' and Protective As- 
sociation of New York, as the central organization, 
representing most of the many bird societies of the 
United States, passed a resolution, earnestly calling 
upon Congress to enact appropriate and adequate 
tariff legislation, to tax tlie importation of all for- 
eign-bred canary birds. This measure was urged 
by The United Canary Breeders' and Protective As- 
sociation of New York to prevent the importation of 
birds of inferior quality and unsound condition; to 
protect and improve the American-bred product ; be- 
cause of the high price of rearing, feeding and 
housing birds, in this country, compared to the low 



21; 



cost of production abroad. The author of this 

book was chosen by the committee to draft the reso- 
lution. 

Since then, this resolution and copies of the 
same, signed by some of the most powerful and influ- 
ential public men in this country, have been for- 
warded to the Ways and Means Committee of Con- 
gress. The bill for the taxation of imported birds 
was introduced in the House of Congress, by Con- 
gressman Clarence McGregor of Buffalo, New York. 
It has been referred to the Ways and Means Com- 
mittee and has not yet been voted upon. A copy 
of the resolution indorsing Congressman McGregor's 
bill adopted by The Canary Bird Breeders' and Pro- 
tective Association of New York and prepared by 
the author of this book is as follows : 

''Whereas, the American Canary Bird Breeders 
and Protective Association of New York, represent- 
ing many thousands of breeders of canary birds in 
the United States, realizing, with grave concern, 
the vital necessity for the protection of the infant, 
but rapidly growing industry of breeding and pro- 
ducing roller canaries in the United States, from the 
unequal, inequitable and unjust competition created 
by the importation of foreign birds : 

''Whereas, fully appreciating the utmost im- 
portance of invoking the aid of Congress for im- 



216 



proving the breed and quality of birds and urging 
the passage of the bill now before Congress, intro- 
duced by the Honorable Clarence MacGregor, of 
Buffalo, New York, for the defense and protection 
of the home industry, by the taxation of Five Dollars 
imposed upon every canary imported Into the United 
States : 

''Whereas, conscious of the utter impossibility 
of an honest and equitable competition between for- 
eign bred and domestic birds due to the cheapness 
of production abroad in foodstuff, labor and rent, 
as compared to the high cost of labor, foodstuff and 
rent in the United States: 

"Whereas, deeply aroused by the earnest ap- 
I)eals of the maimed soldiers, soldeirs' widows and or- 
phans and the many aged and infirm persons, whose 
principal source of livelihood, depends upon and is 
derived from the breeding and improvement of these 
birds ; being thorquglily imbued with the idea, that 
charity begins at home ; that any American industry 
should receive the first consideration wherein Amer- 
icans are concerned: 

"Whereas, firmly convinced that the purchase 
of canaries is a luxury, a burden for which, can be 
more judiciously adjusted, by a reasonable taxation, 
than the many commodities for household use^ 



===== 217 ■ 

"Be it hereby solemnly resolved, in order 1© 
eontinue this industry unhampered; that the law oi' 
supply of these birds in the United States may also 
meet the demand; to prohibit the further importa- 
tion of weak and debilitated birds of far inferior 
quality from abroad; to improve the quality of the 
breed and stock in the United States; to prevent 
the deterioration and gradual death of this infant 
industry at home, we herewith, petition the Con- 
gress of the United States to enact the said Mac- 
Gregor legislation and to give complete, adequate 
and necessary remedy, as will curb this grievous 
menace, protect and encourage this industry, by a 
just, equitable and sufficient tariff, well calculated 
to equalize the difference between the low price of 
production abroad and the high cost necessary to 
raise and maintain birds for market, bred in the 
United States. 

''All persons wishing to assist American breed- 
ers are earnestly requested to sign this petition". 



-^ ii A 




\ . The Bird Representing Justice, Fraternity and Equality. 



I 



221 



INDEX 



Page 

After }iro(Mling season 

is over 48, 81, 82, 13G 

Age young birds leave 

nest 21 

Age young birds 
should be trained, 
eat alone, fly and 

sing 91, 98 

American homes for 

the roller 

American Improve- 
ment of the roller.. 30, 37 
American industry... 11 

American public on 

roller 9 

Apoplexy 171 

Asthma 165, 160 

Bath for Birds 198 

Bald Spots 91 

Bird organizations. . .103, 199 

Bird shows 103, 104 

Breeding cages (size 

and description) ... 62 
Breeding for type, t© 
produce color, con- 
formation and mel- 
ody 185, 194 

Breeding stock (selec- 
tion) 69 

Broken bones 179 

Bronchitis 164 

Cage cleaning 198 

Caked feet 183 

Canary Islands 17 

Catarrh of head 163 

Catarrh of stomach . . 161 

"Chappers" .-. 9, 27 



Page 

Cold in head 163 

Color feeding 54 

Composition of an egg 204 

Constipation 151 

Consumption 167 

Costiveness 152 

Cramps 161 

Cutting toe nails 183, 184 

Cuttle bone 42 

Defective tours 121 

Diagram for breeding 

room 65 

Diarrhea 152, 153 

Diptheria 175 

Diseases of feet 182, 183 

Diseases of glands... 157 

Diseases of liver .... 160 

Distinguishing male 

from female young. 92 

Drinking fountain for 

breeding room .... 44 

Dropsy 159 

"Flgg bound 72 

Eggs. color, light 
test, water test, fer- 
tile or clear, handl- 
ing 64, 66, 70 

Egg eater 46, 68 

Eggf ood 43, 48 

English system of buy- 
ing bird 200 

Evolution of roller . . 29 

Epileptic fits, cause 

and cure 172 

Fatty Degeneration . . 156 

Feather picker 91, 92 

Feeds (kinds) 38, 39 



222 



Page 

Flying cage, (size) . . 83, 91 
Food recipes for old 

and young birds 57, 52, 53 
Food principal 

kind 38, 40, 41 

Gout 158 

Green food 38, 39, 4() 

Hatches, single, flying, < 
company and chang- 
ing 77, 78, 80 

Healthy birds (des- 
cription) 148 

Helping hen feed 

nestlings 85 

Hemp seed 38. 39, 209 

History 15 

Hoarseness 163 

Imported Birds 37 

Impure food, water.. 147, 149 

Indigestion 152 

Inflamation of 

bowels 96, 154, 155 

Inflamation of lungs. 169 
Ingredients, necessary 

for fertile egg \ 39, 64 

Internal Parasites ... 178 

Judging 104, 122 to 125 

Leg bands 88 

Lice, red mites and 

gray louse 133, 134. 135 

Light in breeding 

room at night .... 89 
Lime material neces- 
sary 41, 42 

Lime stool 15(') 

Losing feathers after 

moult 198 

Mating, selecting 

pairs 59, 60, 63, 66 

Meal worms 43 

Mice 140 

Misformation of bill. 181 

Months for breeding. 61, 77 



Page 

Moulting season ....142, 92 
Nest egg necessary . . 87 

Nesting material, 

kinds 63, 94 

Nestlings, care and 

treatment ..43, 84, 85, 89 

94, 95 

Organ as teacher. .. .106, 107 

Overfeeding 42 

Paralytic strokes.... 171 

Pedigree book 198 

Pneumonia 168. 169 

Precautions for 

health 194, 195, 196 

Preparation for breed- 
ing 45, 5S 

Protective Tariff 205 

Publicity for roller . 11 

Rape seed, quality... 39 

Rheumatism 168 

Roller compared to 

other song birds 26, 28, 35 

Scarlet fever 1 76 

Sceptic Fever 160 

Seed, best kinds 38, 39 

Selection of a song 

bird '.. 195 

Shipping of birds . . . 199 

Sick birds, symptoms 148 

Skin boil 180, 181 

Small pox 171 

Spinach salad 38 

Study Cabinet 100, 101 

Sweat disease 74, 76 

Swellings 180 

Temperature of breed- 
ing room 62, 197 

Throat of song bird, 

construction 112 

Throat worm 170 

Tours, classified, rat- 
ings .105, 120. 121 



223 



Page 

Training young birds 97 

T,y])hoi(l fever 177 

Ventilation of bred- 

ing room 62 

Vermin, rats, mice, 

lice 133, 140, 141 

Vertigo 173 

Vorsinger 97, 98. 99, 102 



Page 

Water, pure 44, 204 

Water test for fertile 

eggs 64, Q6 

Wild canary 16 

Windswellings '159 

Wounds 179 

Yellow gall 184 

Yellow jaundice 157 




BIRD BREEDERS AND FANCIERS 

If you want to perfect your knowledge of 

CANARY BREEDING AND CANARY SONG 

read the 

AMERICAN 
CANARY JOURNAL 

Best instructive monthly Bird Magazine, 

written by well experienced Breeders and Fanciers. 

^€^. 

Published under Auspices 

UNITED CANARY BREEDERS 

OF AMERICA. 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.00 PER YEAR. 
SINGLE COPIES 20 CENTS. 

Address ell communications to: 

ALEX. VOLLKOMMER, Mgr. 

48 WINDSOR PLACE, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 



GOLD MEDAL 
AND MANY BLUE RIBBON WINNERS 



JOS. L VARGHA 

BREEDEE OF 

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SWEETEST SINGERS GIFT FOR ANYTIME 

Birds Shipped All Over United States. 

3101 THIRD AVENUE 
Corner 158th Street 

Residence 

423 EAST 158th STREET 

Bronx. N. Y. 



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THE 
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Importer and 

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Goldfish and Aquaria Supplies. 

PET STOCK, PEDIGREED DOGS, ETC. 

HENRY BISHOP, Inc. 

, BALTIMORE, MD. 

Established 187Ip 
''The Bird House'' with a National Reputation. 



HLR5HLY TRADING CO., 

Incorporated 

190 PEARL ST., NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. 

IMPORTERS 
& DEALERS 

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Breeder and .^I^P Fancier of 




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Winner of Gold Medal for 

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Receiving 369 points! 

riNEST STOCK FOR SALE REASONABLE 




ALEX 
VOLLKOMMER 

48 WINDSOR PLACE 

BROOKLYN, N. Y. 

Breeder and Fancier of 
ROLLER CANARIES 

Winner of Gold and Silver Medals, 
First and Special Prizes, 

OVER TWENTY YEARS EXPERIENCE. 
SHIPMENTS PROMPTLY FILLED. 



EDWARD H. PARKER 

3651 HUMPHREY STREET 
ST. LOUIS, MO. 
BREEDER OF 

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Strong, healthy birds 

bred for classy singing qualities only. 

Properly fed and beautifully trained. 

Birds shipped everywhere in No. 1 shipping cases. 

Well supplied with food and water. 




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Prepared By 

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NEW YORK CITY 
p. O. BOX 92, STAPLETON, STATEN ISLAND, N. Y. 




KARL WA55LRMLYLR 

BREEDER AND FANCIER OF 

LDLLROLLLR 
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Recipient of Gold Medal two years in succession 

3474 THIRD AVENUE 
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Phone: Longacre 2821 



^ ,^ CANARY 
LEG 
^' BANDS 





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STRAUSS BEST BET 

A K C 290260 

WEIGHT 12 POUNDS. 
BEST HEADED LIGHT WEIGHT 

Living Service Guaranteed 

611 THIRD AVENUE 

Bet. 39th & 40th Streets 
PHONE: MURRAY HILL 4759 

Finest Singing Rollers at a 
Reasonable Price. 




Manufacturers of 

HEGER'S Seeds, 

Foods and Remedies. 

The highest 
standards obtain- 
able, without any- 
equal. 

Free bird book and 
price-list on request. 



REG. U.S. PAT. OFF 

THE HEGER BIRD CO. 

Established 1892 
70 WEST 7th STREET, ST. PAUL, MINN. 
BIRDS— PARROTS— GOLDFISH— PETS 



JOHN ORLICK 




BREEDER OF 




Victor 2196-X 

HARTZ MOUNTAIN 

AND 

FULL NOTE 
ROLLER CANARIES 

— Yisitors Welcome — 
1427 Missouri Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 



CAGE BIRD WORLD 

Oldest Canary-Cage 
Bird Magazine in America. 

EDITED BY AUGUST M. ROTH, 
Acknowledged America's Foremost Pet Stock Pu'blicist 

Trial 3 month, 25c. None Free. Yearly $1.00 

216 WORLD BUILDING, BALTIMORE, MD. 

MAX GEISLER BIRD CO. 

DIRECT IMPORTERS OF BIRDS 
Manufacturer of the famous 

"Roller - Seed'' and "Bird Biscuit" 

''The Scientifically Balanced Food'' 

FOE SALE AT ALL LEADING DRUGGISTS 
Illustrated Catalogue Free. 

28 COOPER SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY. 

ESTABLISHED 1888. OMAHA, NEB. 



BIRD - PEPTOAST 

Keeps Birds in good plumage & Song. 
It has no equal, for sale everywhere. 

THE PEPTOAST CO., MFRS. 

415 EAST 148th STREET 
NEW YORK 

When in our City pay us a Visit. 

EDW. S. SCHMID'S 

EMPORIUM OF PETS 

712 Twelfth Street Northwest 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

Singing Birds, Fine Bred Fowls, Cages, Pigeons, Dogs, 

Monkeys, Pet Animals, Gold Fish, Aquariums, 

Dog and Bird Foods, Medicines, Etc. 

Taxidermy in all its branches. 

WESTMINSTER KENNELS 

318 West 42nd St. Phone Bryant - 2714 

Get, the right dog and pay the right price. 
There's only one sure way of doing hoth; come to 
see the largest and longest established kennels in 
New York, where you'll have the greatest range of 
choice selection, where competent advice will steer 
you straight and price matches quality. Always open. 

BIRDS - PARROTS - MONKEYS - PETS 

OF EVERY DESCRIPTION 

FANCY POULTRY — FANCY PIGEONS 

WE BUY, BREED AND SELL. 
We Ship Everywhere. 

NATIONAL PET SHOP 

2335 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MO. 

Wholesale and Retail 

Printed by The Stuyvesant Press, ■Neiv York 



ALWAYS ON HAND: 

A FEW SELECT 

HIGH QUALITY VORSINGERS 

THE VERY HIGHEST QUALITY 

ROLLER STOCK. 




THOMAS A. CHURCH 

2412 SEVENTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY 









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JAN 78 

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